Can OSU's Devin Smith make an early splash?
Zac Jackson
June 17, 2011
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Devin Smith will drive to Ohio State's campus Sunday to begin the next phase of his life.
That he usually flies is part of the reason his arrival is so anticipated.
The Ohio State football program is in need of some good news and a positive distraction. The arrival of Smith -- a wide receiver from the prestigious Massillon program in Northeast Ohio -- and the rest of the class of 2011 signees should provide that.
The most decorated member of the class, quarterback Braxton Miller, is one of a handful of freshmen to enroll early. Now that the rest are arriving, workouts will pick up and the focus will turn towards August, fall camp and an unpredictable season ahead. And if Miller and Smith can get on the same page, it could be a relationship that produces positive results for a long time.
Smith was in Columbus two weekends ago, closing his high school athletic career by winning the big-school state championship in the 100-meter dash and his second straight long jump title, in addition to finishing eighth in the high jump. Add that to his football background -- the game is serious business in Massillon -- and the ingredients are there.
Ohio State's young and uproven receiving corps will miss senior speedster DeVier Posey for the first five games while he serves an NCAA suspension. The top returning receivers set to be in the lineup for the Sept. 3 opener are tight end Jake Stoneburner (21 catches last year) and fullback Zach Boren (10 catches).
For Smith, opportunity figures to present itself early.
"Athletically, he will be as good as anybody," Jason Hall, Smith's high school coach, said. "He has to learn the scheme and adjust to the college game, but the sky is the limit with a kid as talented as he is. He's a freak of nature.
"He's a mature kid, he works at making himself better and when he gets comfortable he has a chance to be a real impact playmaker."
Smith caught 110 passes for 2,119 yards and 24 touchdowns in two seasons at Massillon. He also played basketball and saved his best performances on the track for this spring. During the regular season he set Stark County records in both the high jump and long jump, and he set the county record with a 10.56 in the regional meet.
"(Setting) the regional record in the 100 means he was faster than the Glenville kids (Ted Ginn Jr., etc.)," Hall said. "That's some pretty impressive company."
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