Future Ohio State running back Roderick Smith recently wrapped up his illustrious high school career at Fort Wayne (Ind.) Harding and we have his final statistics to pass on to you.

As a senior this season, Smith (6-3, 220, 4.5) rushed for 1,855 yards (6.5 yards per carry) and 19 touchdowns in 11 games. For his career, he piled up 6,655 rushing yards, which is the eighth-most in Indiana history.

And interestingly, Smith finished his prep career with exactly 1,000 carries. He was a four-year starter for head coach Sherwood Haydock and Harding finished 6-5 in 2009 (including a 1-1 mark in the playoffs).

Smith didn’t have a good supporting cast around him this season and was a one-man show at times. He doubled as a strong safety and was one of the best defensive players in his conference.

But for Ohio State, he will be strictly a running back and there are many people that believe he might be able to come in and make an immediate impact for the Buckeyes.

“Well, the best thing about him is that he runs like he’s 5-11,” Haydock said. “He is 6-3, 220, but you don’t realize that until you stand by him because of the way he runs. He has the elusiveness of a smaller back, and he has great speed burst and great balance. And of course he has power. That is what makes him extremely useful in all areas.

“He has great hands – he could easily be a receiver. He understands the zone running concepts real well. We run a lot of zone and he does a great job of reading blocks and making the right cuts.”

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