AUSTIN, Texas — Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said this week he’s still haunted by TreVeyon Henderson’s 75-yard screen pass. That Ohio State touchdown at the end of the first half of the playoff semifinal against the Longhorns two seasons ago sent Texas into the locker room with a gut punch. Ohio State won. You remember.
Jeremiah Smith blocked three guys on the play … or he may as well have. Texas rushed four. Smith, then a freshman, was lined up alone on the left. As the play developed, a cornerback, defensive end and safety stayed near Smith on that side of the field. That left just four other defenders actually in position on the right side of the field with a shot at Henderson. They didn’t get him.
That was one of the Buckeyes’ three offensive touchdowns in that 28-14 win.
Last year, Carnell Tate leaped to snag a 40-yard touchdown at the goal line for the Buckeyes’ second score of an eventual 14-7 victory over Texas. As Tate tumbled to the ground against single coverage, you could see Smith on the other side of the field covered by two Texas defenders.
That’s how Smith’s gravity matters. He sucks defenders into his orbit. Teammates take advantage. Awesome.
On Saturday, that won’t be enough. Ohio State has to maximize Smith, and we should expect the Buckeyes to do that. Because while Texas has done its part to take away Smith in two matchups the last two seasons, Ohio State has also played too big a role in taking Smith out of the game.
Two of the most important defenders in those games were Will Howard and Julian Sayin.