Smith narrowed his college choices to Miami, USC, UCLA, and Ohio State. In his two seasons with the Buckeyes (1990, 1992), Smith ran for a total of 1,945 yards, leading the team both years. As a freshman in 1990, he had a personal-best 1,126 yards (88.4 yards per game), and rushed for 18 touchdowns.[2] Smith sat out the 1991 football season, switching to a track and field scholarship, and posted a personal-best time of 10.24 seconds in the 100 meters for the Buckeyes.[2][3] He seriously considered transferring to either USC or Stanford in the Pac-10 to play football; Ohio State coach John Cooper had kept the door open for Smith to return to the Buckeyes' football team, and he did in 1992.
Robert Smith shares memories, college football insight https://t.co/RUWD6k8l0q— Lettermen Row (@LettermenRow) May 5, 2020
March 4, 1972Cleveland HS legend Robert Smith-Euclid RB & track star born. 2x Ohio Mr. Football ('88, '89),31 TDs sr. yr, OSU,1st rd pick. All-time #NFL record for avg yds per TD run (27.2)-wow! Was amazing-PD ranked him 1st in past 50 yrs #HappyBday #26 https://t.co/B4ipH1gRVv pic.twitter.com/cWOMSfkkUg— Mr. Cleveland Sports (@MrCleveland_216) March 4, 2021