Ohio State’s Devin Smith Could Be the Steal of the NFL Draft

COLUMBUS, Ohio — According to Ohio State’s final pregame depth chart of the 2014 season, one of the biggest risers in the 2015 NFL draft wasn’t even a starter in his senior season.

That would be Devin Smith, the Buckeyes’ big-play wideout who somehow was listed as a second-stringer throughout Ohio State’s run to a national championship. Smith’s backup status, however, was in title only, as he led the Buckeyes with team highs of 931 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.

The Massillon, Ohio, native enjoyed a particularly strong stretch to finish his senior season, hauling in a combined seven passes for 269 yards and four touchdowns in Ohio State’s three postseason games.

That momentum has carried over to this week’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, where Smith has continued to make his case for being one of the draft’s hottest prospects.

At 6’1″ and 199 pounds, size and speed have never been issues for the former member of the Buckeyes’ track team. That was apparent from the moment he set foot on Ohio State’s campus, catching 14 balls for 294 yards and four touchdowns as a true freshman despite dealing with shaky quarterback play.

Smith’s average of 21 yards per catch as a freshman seemed promising, but over time it became the stat that seemed to define his career.

Just once did the Ohio State speedster lead the Buckeyes in receptions—his 14 in 2011 tied two other players for the team lead—but he twice led OSU in receiving yards. In 2014, he tallied 21…

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