Ohio State defensive end Tyreke Smith accepts Senior Bowl invitation
COLUMBUS — The NFL Draft buzz is building once again for Tyreke Smith.
The Ohio State defensive end will have a chance to crank it up any higher in the Senior Bowl.
The prestigious scouting event and exhibition confirmed that the standout pass-rusher accepted an invitation on Thursday, which doubled as another sign that Smith won’t be returning for another season with the Buckeyes. There wasn’t much doubt about that anyway thanks to the high-end projections about his professional potential that date back to his recruitment, and the fact that he participated in Senior Day festivities last month at Ohio State reinforced that idea.
Just about the only thing that has ever slowed Tyreke Smith down have been injuries, and he dealt with them again for a stretch this season. But when he was healthy, Smith was a game-changing weapon off the edge.
“He’s a veteran player who has a lot of ability,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said in the middle of the season. “I know this is going to be a big stretch for him. … This is important for him.
“I know he wants to finish his career the right way and play really well for us and produce at a high level. He’s highly motivated and always has been. So, it’s good to get him back on the field.”
The Buckeyes may still have to wait to find out if Tyreke Smith will be there again for them in the Rose Bowl. It would obviously be a lift for Ohio State in a physical matchup against Utah, and it could give him a chance to add to his three-sack, five-tackle-for-loss senior season.
Those numbers probably should have been more impressive anyway thanks to the amount of missed holding calls Smith should have drawn with his athleticism flying around the corner.
But either way, Tyreke Smith will officially have another audition for NFL scouts at the Senior Bowl.
