Former Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith signs with the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL

Former Ohio State and Glenville quarterback Troy Smith is restarting his football career with the Montreal Alouettes in the CFL.

By Doug Lesmerises, The Plain Dealer

August 14, 2013

COLUMBUS, Ohio - From Glenville High School to Ohio State to the Heisman Trophy to the NFL Draft to the Baltimore Ravens to the San Francisco 49ers to the Omaha Nighthawks of the UFL to the Pittsburgh Steelers to an internship at Ohio State.

Troy Smith's football career has taken him a lot of places. And now it's taking him to Canada.

The Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League announced on Wednesday night that they had signed Smith to a two-year contract.

"We welcome Troy to the Alouettes. We've been in discussions together for well over three months and have been patiently waiting for Troy to finish his commitments at Ohio State,” Alouettes General Manager Jim Popp said in a statement released by the team. “We'll have to fast track Troy in order to get him over the learning curve of the CFL and caught up to speed over the next several weeks. He's here to learn and grasp the game for future competition."

Smith had been around Ohio State for about a year, working last fall with the gameday operations crew, throwing to Ohio State receivers at their Pro Day in March.

“I totally have accepted the next stage of my life,” Smith said then, while making it clear he would still love to get a call from the Browns.

He was open to opportunity and staying in shape by throwing with the younger Buckeyes.

“You’ve got no choice but to look young and spry right with them,” Smith said then.

He's spry enough for the Alouettes. The CFL is in the middle of its season. Montreal is 2-4 with 12 more games in to play in a schedule that runs through Nov. 1.

NC Sports clients named to Big Ten Network's All-Big Ten Offense of 2000's

Dienhart: My All-Big Ten Offense of 2000′s

By Tom Dienhart

July 16, 2013

The 2000s saw plenty of great players in the Big Ten. One, in fact, won the Heisman: Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith (2006), who arguably is the top player from the 2000s. Over the next couple days, I’m going to take a look at the best of the best in the Big Ten since the calendar flipped to 2000. First up: Offense.

Before I get to the list, I have a couple rules: 1. A player had to play at least two seasons in the 2000s to be considered; 2. Nebraska players prior to 2011 are not eligible.

OFFENSE

WR: Braylon Edwards, Michigan (2001-04). The Biletnikoff Award winner as a senior with 97 catches and 1,330 yards, he finished with 252 receptions, 3,541 yards receiving and 39 TD grabs in an illustrious career in Ann Arbor.

WR: Taylor Stubblefield, Purdue (2001-04). He left West Lafayette as the NCAA career leader with 325 catches. He also had 3,629 career receiving yards and 21 TDs.


TE: Dallas Clark, Iowa (1999-2002). He capped his career by winning the Mackey Award as a senior, ending a career that saw him make 81 catches for 1,281 yards, 8 TDs in just two seasons as tight end. Clark had 43 catches for 742 yards with 4 scores in 2002.


QB: Troy Smith, Ohio State (2003-06). There were some good signal-callers in the 2000s, but Smith gets the nod based on his 2006 Heisman season in which he led the Buckeyes to the BCS title game.

RB: Mike Hart, Michigan (2004-07). The diminutive Hart rushed 1,015 times for 5,040 yards, both Michigan records, and 41 TDs. Hart placed fifth in the Heisman Trophy balloting in 2006 and ran for at least 100 yards 28 times and 200 yards five times, both Michigan all-time marks.


RB: Montee Ball, Wisconsin (2009-12). The 2011 Heisman Trophy finalist and 2012 Doak Walker Award recipient, Ball scored 38 touchdowns in 2011 (one behind Barry Sanders’ FBS record) and finished his career with an NCAA record 83 scores. He also ran for a total of 5,140 yards.

OL: Robert Gallery, Iowa (1999-2003). He began his career at tight end before morphing into an all-time great at tackle. As a senior in 2003, Gallery was a consensus All-American, the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year and the Outland Trophy winner. He was the No. 2 overall selection in the draft.

OL: Joe Thomas, Wisconsin (2003-06). The massive tackle returned for his senior season and helped the Badgers have the second-highest scoring offense and the fourth-best rushing offense in the Big Ten. Thomas was first-team All-Big Ten, a consensus All-American and the Outland Trophy winner before being picked No. 3 overall.

OL: Greg Eslinger, Minnesota (2002-05). As a senior, the center won the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year award, the Outland Trophy and the Rimington Trophy. Not bad for a kid from North Dakota who had no FBS offers.

OL: Levi Brown, Penn State (2002-06). He arrived as a defensive lineman but flipped sides of the ball. Brown became a dominant blocker and eventual No. 5 overall selection in the NFL draft.

OL: Jake Long, Michigan (2003-07). As a senior, Long was a unanimous All-American and won the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year award for a second year in a row. The tackle subsequently was the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.

K: Mike Nugent, Ohio State (2001-04). He broke or tied 22 school records. Among them: notching the most points in a career (356). He connected on 72-of-88 field-goal attempts and 140-of-143 extra-point attempts.

NC Sports clients honored in Ohio State Football's All-Time Dream Team

From Tim Bielik's "Ohio State Football: The All-Time Dream Team"

August 15, 2012

QB: Troy Smith


Of all the Heisman Trophy winners in the school's history, Troy Smith is the only quarterback to bring home the hardware.

Smith's senior season, sans the national championship game, was incredible and almost set the standard for what a true dual-threat quarterback should be able to do.

Smith racked up about 8,000 yards of total offense and 68 touchdowns in his career, 31 of which came in the 2006 season.

Ohio State has had some solid quarterbacks in recent years, but Smith has been a cut above the rest, and he should be the standard for how Buckeye quarterbacks should play.


WRs: Cris Carter, Ted Ginn, Jr.; TE: John Frank




Ohio State has produced as many good receivers in the past 25 years as any other school in the country, and the two best from those eras couldn't be more different.

Ted Ginn, Jr. may have been the fastest receiver in school history, with an ability to get behind almost any DB at will.

Ginn finished his career with over 4,000 all-purpose yards and 26 touchdowns between rushing, receiving and returning.

His last touchdown was a kickoff return against the Florida Gators in the 2007 BCS National Championship Game. Unfortunately, he got injured and missed the rest of the game.

Ohio State has not had a great history of TEs, but John Frank was an excellent player at the position.

Frank is the career leader among TEs in receptions (121) and yards with 1,481. He was a two-time All-American.


DL: Mike Vrabel, Dan Wilkinson, Jim Stillwagon, Bill Willis


The defensive front four of the OSU Dream Team is full of relentless, athletic players that made plays in both the running game as well as while rushing the passer.

Mike Vrabel, now an assistant with the Buckeyes, recorded 33 sacks and 66 TFLs in his career, both of which are school records. He then went on to help New England win three Super Bowls.


LBs: Chris Spielman, Andy Katzenmoyer, A.J. Hawk



Ohio State has long been a linebacker powerhouse and produced three amazingly talented linebackers in three respective decades.

Andy Katzenmoyer may have been the most imposing linebacker in school history, as "Big Kat" towered over opposing offenses.

He started 37 games from 1994-96 and recorded 197 tackles, 50 of which were losses and 18 sacks. He was also the first inside linebacker in school history to win the Butkus Award.


K: Mike Nugent; P: Tom Tupa


When it comes to kickers at Ohio State, Mike Nugent was as reliable as they come.

Nugent has the career marks in FG percentage (.818) and scoring with 365 points. He also won the Lou Groza Award and was named a first-team All-American in 2004.

Tom Tupa was very reliable as well, not just as a punter but also as a quarterback.

He threw for 1,786 seasons and 12 TDs as a senior in 1987, starting both at quarterback and at punter. Tupa enjoyed an 18-year career in the NFL with a career average of 43.4 yards per punt.

NC Sports Clients Ginn, Smith, Krenzel among best of Tressel era

By Adam Stang

March 14, 2011

So who are the best players of the Jim Tressel era? Read on to find out.

Honorable Mention—DL Cameron Heyward, 2007-2010

Heyward earned a starting position on the defensive line in 2007 and hasn't looked back.

In the most important games, Heyward came up big. Against Penn State in 2009, he made 11 tackles—three for loss—and two sacks in a dominating performance. In this year's Sugar Bowl, Heyward had 1.5 sacks and arguably deserved to be named MVP.

Heyward is considered a top defensive end prospect in the 2011 NFL Draft.

10. K Mike Nugent, 2001-2004

It seems odd that a kicker would make this kind of list but Nugent has earned his due.

First off, he broke or tied 22 records in his four-year career at Ohio State including most career points (356).

His senior season was particularly monstrous—he was an All-American, won the Lou Groza Award as the nation's best kicker and was named team MVP. That's right, the kicker was named MVP.

Nugent was drafted in the second round by the New York Jets, making him one of the highest drafted kickers in history.

9. WR Ted Ginn, 2004-2006

Ginn was one of the most exciting players to ever don an Ohio State jersey.

In his career, he returned six punts for touchdowns, a Big Ten record. In the 2007 National Championship Game, he returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown but was unfortunately injured in the ensuing celebration and didn't return.

Ginn was such a prolific return man that he earned first-team All-American selections in 2004 and 2005 as a returner.

He was also an accomplished wide receiver who provided a legitimate deep threat. In his final two seasons, he caught 51 and 59 passes respectively.

8. RB Beanie Wells, 2006-2008

Wells was a rare power/speed combo back that made him a pleasure to watch.

After a solid freshman season in which he shared carries with Antonio Pittman, Wells exploded for 1,609 yards and 15 touchdowns during his sophomore campaign.

Due to his performance, Wells was frequently named as a preseason Heisman candidate. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury the first game and missed the next three. Despite that, he still managed to rumble for 1,197 yards and eight touchdowns, earning team MVP honors.

7. CB Malcolm Jenkins, 2005-2008

During his career, Jenkins racked up numerous accolades—three-time All-Big Ten, second-team All-American and first-team All-American. He also won the Thorpe Award as the nation's best defensive back.

Due to his outstanding play, Jenkins was considered a shutdown corner.

Jenkins would be higher on this list but as a member of Ohio State teams that lost three consecutive bowl games, he carries the stigma of being unable to win the big game.

6. LB James Laurinaitis, 2005-2008

Laurinaitis played at the same time as Malcolm Jenkins and they teamed up to form an intimidating defensive duo.

During his career, he was a three-time All-American, Dick Butkus Award winner as the nation's most outstanding linebacker and Bronco Nagurski Award winner as the nation's best defensive player among others.

Laurinaitis is one of the best linebackers in Ohio State history.

As with Jenkins, Laurinaitis will unfortunately carry the stigma of leading defenses that were trounced in consecutive national championship game appearances.

5. LB A.J. Hawk, 2002-2005

Hawk was the best linebacker of the Jim Tressel era.

He was a beast on the field, making 394 tackles despite starting only three seasons.

He was All-Big Ten every year as a starter and won the Lombardi Award as the nation's best college football lineman or linebacker.

Hawk was so impressive that he was selected fifth overall in the 2006 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. He is a solid contributor for them to this day.

4. QB Terrelle Pryor, 2008-Present

He isn't always pretty but Pryor gets the job done.

He has been criticized for supposedly not living up to his status as the nation's top football prospect.

Despite the criticism, Pryor has been extremely successful, boasting a 31-4 record as the starter. Against Michigan, he is a perfect 3-0. In BCS Bowl games, he is 2-0 (Todd Boeckman started the 2009 Fiesta Bowl), ending a three year skid by beating Oregon in the Rose Bowl and ending Buckeye futility against the SEC by winning the Sugar Bowl over Arkansas.

Pryor has one season left and though it will be shortened due to suspension, he has the opportunity to add another win over Michigan and a third BCS Bowl victory to his resume.

3. S Mike Doss, 1999-2002

Doss played two seasons under Jim Tressel and so makes the list.

Doss was a three-time All-American, three-time All-Big Ten, two-time Thorpe Award finalist and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2002.

He was the leader of the 2002 Silver Bullets, the best defensive unit of the Tressel era. They yielded 13.1 points per contest, second best in college football that season.

In the 2003 National Championship Game against Miami, Doss made a key interception of Ken Dorsey that gave Ohio State the lead. He was named game MVP.

2. QB Troy Smith, 2003-2006

Smith did not come to Ohio State with much acclaim but left as a Heisman Trophy winner and Buckeye great.

Since he began taking snaps his sophomore season, he matured into the quarterback that threw 30 touchdowns in an outstanding 2006 campaign.

He was named team MVP, won the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's best quarterback and the Heisman Trophy with 86.7 percent of first place votes, a record that still stands.

Adam Rittenberg listed Smith as "Big Ten player of the decade."

Smith would be numero uno on this list if not for the whipping Ohio State received at the hands of Florida. In the 2007 National Championship Game, Smith was 4/14 for 35 yards as Ohio State lost 14-41.

1. QB Craig Krenzel, 2000-2003

In terms of statistics and accolades, Krenzel may be the worst player on this list.

In his career at Ohio State, Krenzel threw 28 touchdowns, a number Terrelle Pryor nearly matched in 2010 alone.

Krenzel's greatness was not in shiny statistics but in grit—he was smart, accurate and made plays when they were needed most.

Take Holy Buckeye for instance; down 3-6 with less than two minutes to play, Krenzel completed a 37-yard pass to Michael Jenkins on fourth down for a touchdown.

In the 2003 National Championship Game, Krenzel completed key fourth down conversions that saved the game for Ohio State. He was named co-MVP of the game along with Mike Doss.

In his career, Krenzel was 24-3 as starter.

Troy Smith's "heroic effort" leads to impressive win over Rams

49ers’ game-changer: Troy Smith does what Alex Smith never did

BY TIM KAWAKAMI

NOVEMBER 14, 2010

* Straight from tomorrow morning’s paper (UNEDITED VERSION)…

I’ll add something in a bit, gotta head out of the pressbox right now.
—9:45 p.m. UPDATE: Quick adds…

* -My read is that Mike Singletary’s non-committal stance on the starting QB isn’t a big deal. It’s only to make sure he doesn’t get out too far ahead on the Troy Smith-is-better-than-Alex 49ers theme.

Even though it’s true and almost certainly what Singletary has thought for weeks.

I think Singletary felt a little burned when he made those comments praising Troy Smith’s leadership at the time of the Denver game–even if Singletary really meant them as a comparison to Alex Smith’s more muted style, he didn’t want them interpreted quite so brazenly.

So Singletary will sit and wait a bit on naming Troy Smith the starter for the rest of the season, just for appearance’s sake. He also has the cover of Alex Smith’s left shoulder–Singletary can just say, hey, Alex is not healthy, no public decision necessary until he’s OK to play.

(Smith was on the sidelines, noticeably non-demonstrative throughout the game, as he was when he hurt his right shoulder in 2007, then while he sat out 2008. Probably a lot going through his mind. As there was in 2007-2008.)

But I also believe that Singletary’s determination not to praise Troy Smith too much today is a semi-reverse-sign:.

He likes Troy Smith so much that Singletary wants to stay on him now to make sure Troy keeps working and develops into the QB Singletary wants him to be.

You coach and cajole the guys you think can save your butt. The ones who can’t, you basically ignore.

Alex Smith will never be the savior, though that’s what the 49ers kept hoping.

It showed when Singletary was gentle, gentle, gentle with him (David Carr as a non-threatening back-up?), and it didn’t get the 49ers or Singletary anything.

And gentle-gentle, I think Singletary now realizes, was the wrong approach.

That all pretty much ended when Singletary started shouting at Alex Smith in the Eagles game. He needed a way out of Alex, and he just happened onto Troy Smith.

Troy Smith might not be great. He might not be the QB of the future. But he’s a legitimate QB of the now, which is better than the 49ers have had in many years.

Troy Smith did everything the 49ers hoped, wished and imagined Alex Smith could do at quarterback, for more than five years now.

And Alex Smith never quite pulled it off, not once, definitely not like this.

Not even for one game, not even by accident.

That might not be the most polite way to describe the typically touchy 49ers QB situation. But it’s the deepest truth about Troy Smith’s electrifying, captivating, mood-changing performance Sunday.

“You saw what I saw: He made plays,” coach Mike Singletary said of Troy Smith after he led the 49ers to a key 23-20 overtime victory over St. Louis at Candlestick.

“And made plays in crucial times. That’s what you want. That’s exciting to see.”

Singletary also was careful to say Troy Smith was far from perfect against the Rams and Singletary stayed away from giving Troy Smith the job permanently, with Alex Smith’s shoulder still an issue.

But the conclusion is beyond obvious: The 49ers have their QB for the rest of the season or the rest of Singletary’s career, whichever lasts longer.

It’s Troy Smith (free-agent cast-off), no matter the politics or the health status of Alex Smith (former No. 1 overall draft pick).

Troy Smith fits the offense, fits Singletary’s vision, and it he turned this game into his own when a loss would’ve basically shut down the 49ers’ season.

If Alex Smith played this game, the 49ers probably would have lost it, as they have lost so many others.

But Troy Smith played it and won his second consecutive start, and the 49ers are now 3-6, two games behind Seattle in the NFC West.

“He’s a playmaker–that’s what I’ll describe Troy as,” Vernon Davis said. “He’s not afraid to let the ball go. He wants to make plays and he’ll do whatever he has to do to make it happen.”

By itself, Troy Smith’s statistical line was one the 49ers’ best since the days of Steve Young–17 for 28 for 356 yards, a touchdown, no interceptions, for a 116.7 passer rating.

Alex Smith has never thrown for that many yards, or come close to averaging the 12.71 yards per attempt that Troy Smith accomplished in his second start for the 49ers.

But the real significance of the performance was in the details and the derring-do:

* Smith’s throw to Delanie Walker in overtime, with a passrusher on his back, that drew the pivotal pass-interference call and set up Joe Nedney’s game-winning field goal;

* The back-to-back completions to Frank Gore to convert a third-and-32/fourth-and-18 situation with the 49ers trailing in the final minutes of regulation.

* The sidestepping of countless Rams pass rushers, who were blasting through a banged-up 49ers offensive line, to make play after play;

* The determination to throw the ball deep and give his receivers the chance to battle for the ball.

“I love it,” Gore said of Troy Smith’s deep-ball inclination. “I know the receivers are happy to get the opportunity to go down field and make plays.”

It started with the first play from scrimmage, a 32-yard pass to Vernon Davis, and continued throughout the game.

49ers fans had to be scratching their heads: There’s a 49ers QB who loves to throw it deep? All of the time?

In all, Smith had eight completions that went for 23 yards or more, spread to four different receivers.

“That’s you throwing it to your guy away from their guy,” Troy Smith said of his style. “That’s you putting yourself into a position, as player, as a man–however big or small those guys out there, they deserve a chance to make a play.

“Whether a guy is draped all over him or he’s wide open, this is the NFL.”

Of course, Troy Smith wasn’t always brilliant, and the offense had some fits and starts.

But when the 49ers had to, they moved the ball, sometimes at an incredibly rapid pace. And when Troy Smith could’ve come up small, he always came up big.

Afterwards, did Singletary praise Troy Smith in the locker room?

“I don’t know if you’d call it praise,” Troy Smith said with a smile. “It was his little scowl—I know you probably get the scowl a lot.

“He told me, ‘Good job, and we definitely got to go back to the drawing board.’”

That’s different than what Singletary has said or felt about most of Alex Smith’s performances, no doubt.

But the main point is that the 49ers don’t have to keep hoping and praying for Alex Smith any more.

Troy Smith is their QB now. That’s simple to say and it was simple to see Sunday.

Troy Smith leads Niners to comeback win

Leading the charge: Niners quarterback Troy Smith throws downfield under pressure to set up the winning field goal in overtime against the Rams.

November 15, 2010

Best comeback: New starter Troy Smith (who threw for 351 yards with one TD and zero INTs) led the 49ers back from a 17-10 fourth-quarter deficit to a 23-20 win in overtime. Smith, after a would-be fourth-quarter TD was nullified by a penalty, threw a 16-yard scoring strike to Michael Crabtree with 2:10 left.

Troy Smith named Sports Illustrated's Offensive Player of the Week

From Peter King's "Cowboys should fire Phillips now; 'Skins, McNabb head for split, too?"

November 1, 2010

Sunday, Week 8. About as boring a football Sunday as there could be for the first couple of hours, Denver and San Francisco exporting horrible football to London; the Redskins stinking it up at Detroit; the Cowboys looking as pathetic as the '62 Mets; Kansas City and Buffalo playing offensive football like it was 1930 and not 2010; the Jets throwing a slumber party for their offense.

Then some interesting things happened. Lots of them. The benching of The Solution by Mike Shanahan; Troy Smith grabbing hold of the 49ers quarterback job; Ndamukong Suh playing like not only the Defensive Rookie of the Year but also a Defensive Player of the Year candidate; the Packers shutting out the Jets with a tour de force defensive performance that would have made Lombardi proud. And we haven't even gotten to the Patriots lacerating Favre and the Raiders humbling Hasselbeck and, Saints alive, the Saints coming alive.

Off we go on a tour of the NFL as the calendar turns to November.


The Award Section

Offensive Player of the Week

Troy Smith, QB, San Francisco.

Smith hadn't started an NFL game in 34 months -- since a Dec. 30, 2007 win over the Steelers as a Baltimore Raven. And to find out you'll get the start while in London, five days before the game, when you've never worked with the first-unit offense .... Pretty amazing deal. And Smith played well: 12 of 19, 196 yards, one rushing touchdown, one passing touchdown, no interceptions, and a gaudy 115.2 rating. "I'm not looking back at what should have been or what might have happened,'' Smith told me from London, after the Niners beat the Broncos in the league's international game at Wembley Stadium. "I'm just taking this chance and running with it.''

As I said on NBC Sunday night, you'll almost certainly see Troy Smith replace Alex Smith, regardless of Alex's health, when the 49ers come off their bye in 13 days against the Rams. My take is that Mike Singletary sees Troy as the make-something-happen sparkplug he never saw in Alex -- or in backup David Carr.

49ers to start Troy Smith in London

Associated Press

October 27, 2010

LONDON -- With quarterback Alex Smith ruled out because of a separated shoulder, San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Singletary is gambling on Troy Smith being able to turn his struggling team around.

Singletary said Wednesday the former Heisman Trophy winner will get his first NFL start in three years after Alex Smith was ruled out for 2 to 3 weeks with a separated left shoulder. The Niners play the Denver Broncos at London's Wembley Stadium on Sunday.

Singletary picked the former Ohio State standout ahead of David Carr, who came on against Carolina after Alex Smith was injured on Sunday but threw a costly late interception that led to the winning field goal for the Panthers.

"Troy Smith gives us a good opportunity to win this game," Singletary said. "I talked to David Carr about it. He understands. We had a couple of conversations about it. That's a personal thing between he and I, and I'm going to leave it there. Troy Smith is our starting quarterback."

With the Niners off to a 1-6 start, Singletary has little to lose by taking a gamble.

Troy Smith spent the last three years with Baltimore, where his only two starts came in the 2007 season as he struggled to live up to the hype from his college days. But the mobile quarterback, who could give San Francisco's offense extra options with his scrambling ability, said he wasn't surprised by Singletary's decision.

"The way that you prepare as a professional athlete, you have to be prepared when your number is called. And that's exactly where I'm at," he said.

The Niners have a bye following the game at Wembley, giving Alex Smith a chance to heal before San Francisco faces the St. Louis Rams on Nov. 14. He was tackled from the blind side by Carolina's Charles Johnson, driving his shoulder into the turf. He arrived in London on Monday -- along with the rest of the team -- and spent the morning at the hospital, still with his non-throwing arm in a sling.

Singletary said Troy Smith had never taken first-team snaps in practice with the Niners before this week, but that he's catching on quickly.

"He's been studying since we got here, and has been getting with the coaches as much as he possibly could," Singletary said. "He has enough of the offense to play."

Troy Smith said he was told "a couple of days ago" that he would start and would "continue to prepare like a madman" for the rest of the week.

"I think the easiest way to get through to your teammates that you're serious about what's going on is to know exactly what your job is, know exactly what everyone expects from you and go out and execute," Troy Smith said. "At the same time you have to respect your boundaries. I believe in not stepping on anybody's toes, I believe in getting in where you fit in."

While the quarterback will be leading a new team in completely new surroundings -- in front of about 85,000 British fans -- there is one reason he might feel right at home.

Troy Smith will be linking up once again with wide receiver Ted Ginn, one of his best friends from childhood and a favorite target throughout his playing career.

The duo played together both in high school in Cleveland and at Ohio State, and Ginn said they can't wait to get out on the field again together.

"It's great to be able to get back in tune with a guy that you've been playing with your whole life," Ginn said. "For us to go out and continue our journey that we've been [on] so far is great."

Ginn, who joined the Niners from Miami this season, said he first met Troy Smith when they were 7 years old and their families went to the same church. Back then though, their conversations didn't focus on football, but on who was going to sneak out to get some snacks.

"It was at church, and we had a McDonalds to our left, and we had a little candy store to our right," Ginn said. "And we would sneak out of the church, and either I would hold the door and he would run to McDonalds, or he would hold the door and I would run to the candy store. That's how we started off, and then we just grew from there."

Troy Smith said he isn't about to favor his old buddy if other targets are open.

"It's not just about my brother Ted Ginn, it's about the other receivers that are going to be out there also," he said. "We have tremendous playmakers everywhere, and it's my job, my duty, to get everybody the ball."

49ers: Troy Smith Will Start for Injured Alex Smith

October 27, 2010

By Matt Maiocco

LONDON -- Troy Smith, who has yet to take a first-team practice snap with the 49ers, will be the team's starting quarterback Sunday against the Denver Broncos, coach Mike Singletary announced Wednesday morning.

Alex Smith is expected to miss 2 to 3 weeks with a left shoulder separation, Singletary said. David Carr has been demoted after struggling against the Carolina Panthers after taking over for Alex Smith. Carr completed 5 of 13 passes for 67 yards and a critical interception in the 49ers' 23-20 loss to the Panthers.

"The bottom line is I think for where we are, Troy Smith gives us a good opportunity to win the game," Singletary said.

Troy Smith was signed to a one-year contract leading up to the 49ers' first game of the regular season after the Baltimore Ravens released him at the final cutdown date.

"Probably the No. 1 thing I like about him is leadership," Singletary said. "The ability to get everybody on the same page."

There are no other changes to the 49ers' starting lineup, Singletary said.

Alex Smith and center Eric Heitmann (neck) are the only players who have been ruled out for Sunday's game, but reserve cornerback Tarell Brown (back) is unlikely to play, Singletary said.

Guard Chilo Rachal (stinger), running back Anthony Dixon (hamstring strain), tackle Joe Staley (stinger) and safety Taylor Mays (stinger) are all day-to-day.

There was no plan to activate practice-squad quarterback Nate Davis to the 53-man roster, Singletary said. The 49ers did make one move: waiving safety Chris Maragos and activating cornerback Tramaine Brock.

The 10 best players of the Tressel era (so far)

September 2, 2010

By Bill Livingston

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The list of the 10 best players of the Jim Tressel Era at Ohio State begins with a Heisman Trophy winner and ends with a Dick Butkus and Bronko Nagurski award winner.

How hard is it to make this team?

Harder than it has proven for Michigan, in a complete reversal of the trend of The Game before Tressel, to beat the Buckeyes. And that's proven to be a stumper eight times in nine years, including the last six in a row.


1. Troy Smith, quarterback (2003-06) -- Video game numbers: 46 TD passes, 10 interceptions in his final two seasons, including a 30/6 ratio in his Heisman year of 2006. He was the leader of three wins over Michigan, all with "SportsCenter Play of the Day" efforts. The Glenville product was the dominant force in college football in his electric senior season. Had it not been for the resounding thud of his BCS Championship Game performance against Florida, he would rival two-time Heisman winner Archie Griffin as Ohio State's greatest player ever.

2. Maurice Clarett, running back (2002) -- The most polarizing figure in Ohio State football history, Clarett was the freshman on whose shoulders the national championship hopes rested. No one ever made more amazing runs for no gain or little gain, as time and again the one-year wonder avoided drive-killing losses. Clarett scored the winning touchdown after breaking a backfield tackle in the championship game, but the Buckeyes would never have gotten that far without the ball he stole from Miami safety Sean Taylor after Taylor's end zone interception. With no OSU field goal on that drive, there would have been no overtime.

3. Will Smith, defensive end (2000-03) -- The leader of the ferocious front four of the 2002 national championship team, he recorded 10.5 sacks and set the tone for the upset of Miami with a bear-paw swat and sack of Dorsey for a loss on the very first play.

4. Michael Jenkins, wide receiver (2000-03) -- Facing fourth-and-14 in the first OT against Miami, or facing fourth-and-2 at the Boilermakers' 37 in the final minute and change at Purdue, who ya gonna call? Jenkins always answered with huge catches.

5. Chris Gamble, cornerback (2001-03) -- Yes, he was roughed up in the end zone on fourth down in the first OT by Miami, on the penalty that prolonged the tying drive. He also played 106 other snaps in that game and caught OSU's longest pass of the night. A throwback as a two-way player, Gamble made an interception to save the day against Purdue in 2002 was strictly Willie Mays/Vic Wertz stuff in terms of ground covered.

6. A.J. Hawk, linebacker (2002-05) -- The best of a terrific trio that included Bobby Carpenter and Anthony Schlegel, Hawk won the Vince Lombardi Award as the best lineman or linebacker in the college game. No less than legendary Texas coach Darrell Royal left the Horseshoe in 2005 raving about Hawk and his fellow linebackers.


7. Ted Ginn Jr., wide receiver (2004-06) -- Scoring on kickoff and punt returns, swerving on end arounds, flying into the clear on deep balls, even passing for a score, the Glenville flash was an all-purpose threat. Opponents had to find him in a hurry, because he was the fastest man in college football.

8. Will Allen, defensive back (2000-03) -- Doss' caddy for three years intercepted Michigan's John Navarre at the sill of the Buckeyes' goal on the last play in 2002; caught a pass Matt Wilhelm tipped in the end zone to hold off Cincinnati; knocked Willis McGahee out of the Fiesta Bowl on a clean hit, and recovered the fumble of the Hurricanes' Roscoe Parrish in the same game; and stopped an N.C. State running back inches short of the goal on fourth down in the third overtime. In his senior year, Allen was an All-American.

9. Mike Doss, safety (1999-2002) -- Fierce hitter and three-time All-American, Doss was a champion at every level of the game. His ramble with an intercepted pass got Ohio State started in the upset of Miami in the national championship game.

10. James Laurinaitis, linebacker (2005-08) -- Three time All-American, Butkus Award winner as the top college linebacker, Nagurski Award winner as the top college defender, Laurinaitis was a very, very good college player. But he just didn't make that many game-changing plays and "hit the rewind button" collisions.

Top 25 Buckeyes of the Decade: #1 Troy Smith

August 30, 2010

By Jim

The Buckeye Battle Cry will be counting down the Top 25 players of the past decade all spring/summer. Every Monday and Thursday, Jim will be announcing a new player. Our #1 player will be presented on Monday, August 30th. Three days later, the 2010 season officially begins. To view the previous entries in our Top 25, click here.


Troy Smith (2004-2006)

They could make a movie about Troy Smith’s journey at Ohio State. From an athlete who struggled to find a position on the team to a Heisman winning quarterback, the path Smith took was incredible, and there were many ups and downs along the way.

Troy’s transformation from an athlete into a quarterback was almost as drastic as his transformation from an immature college student into one of the best leaders to ever play at Ohio State.

Smith had a few run ins with trouble (including accepting illegal benefits that resulted in a two game suspension) but he learned from them and grew from them like only a true champion could.

When his time came to an end in Columbus, you could hardly tell the difference between Smith and coach Tressel in their demeanor and the way they handled themselves in front of the press. The transformation was a thing to behold, and just another reason why Troy was a fan favorite.


They never did catch him. 3-0

Troy started his career at quarterback by losing a head to head competition with Justin Zwick to replace Craig Krenzel. However, in the first of many instances of staying committed to the team and committed to getting better, Troy persevered and when the sputtering 2004 team needed a spark, Troy was there to jump start the offense.

Smith capped off the 2004 season with one of the best performances ever by a Buckeye against Michigan, leading the team to an upset victory.

On that day in the middle of November, Troy had 145 yards rushing, 241 yards passing, and 3 TDs. It was truly a performance for the ages in the biggest game any Ohio State player will ever play.

Things were looking good for Troy Smith and the Buckeyes. The roller coaster was at the top of a hill, but it soon came crashing back down into a valley.

Right when Troy looked like he was ready to shine, he was suspended for the bowl game and the first game of the 2005 season for accepting illegal benefits. Smith and Ohio State fans came crashing back to earth.

The suspension resulted in some rough going at the beginning of an extremely promising 2005 season (losses to Texas and Penn State). Thankfully, once again, Troy responded like a champion, and by the end of the year Ohio State fielded one of the best teams to ever wear scarlet and gray.

Troy led the 2005 team to an amazing comeback victory in Ann Arbor (2-0), and smashed Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. Troy Smith had once again taken Ohio State and its fans to the top.

The team and Smith rode the momentum they built at the end of 2005 and went wire to wire as the #1 team in the land in 2006. The ride from the end of the 2005 season all the way through the 2006 season were great days for Ohio State, and Smith led some of the best teams to victories in some of the greatest games to ever be played by the Buckeyes.

Victories at #2 Texas in the beginning of the year and against #2 Michigan in an epic battle for the ages at the end of the year were the crown jewels of Troy’s time in Columbus.

Troy had arguably the best year ever for a quarterback at Ohio State in 2006, and ultimately won the Heisman Trophy, capping off a perfect regular season with a bang.

He became only the second starting quarterback to lead Ohio State to three straight victories over Michigan, and he was primed to lead Ohio State to the second National Championship under Jim Tressel.

Unfortunately, the roller coaster ride hit a serious drop in the desert that year, and the embarrassment that resulted still lingers for Ohio State fans to this day.

Smith was drafted in the 5th round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens. He has remained a back-up throughout his time in the NFL, but continues to persevere and wait for his chance at a starting job.

There are many record book stats that we could get into, but to keep things brief, Troy Smith was one of the most prolific passers ever at Ohio State, and one of the winningest quarterbacks as well.

In the absence of a few serious speed bumps (suspension following 2005 season, disaster in Glendale) he would be the greatest quarterback to play at Ohio State without a doubt.

As it is, he is one of the greatest ever, and extremely deserving of being named the top player of the last decade.

For his dynamic play on the field, for his Tessel-esque leadership off the field, for captaining the most prolific offense of the decade, for 3-0 against that school up north, for demolishing Notre Dame, for the best single game offensive performance ever in The Game, for the Heisman Trophy and many other national honors, and for being a truly great and legendary Buckeye, Troy Smith is #1 on our countdown of the top 25 Buckeyes of the past decade.

I am sure I am missing some things that made Troy great, so feel free to share your own favorite memories. It is remarkable how far Troy Smith progressed during his time in Columbus, and unfortunate how that time ended.

Smith’s legacy lives on, however, and I would argue that Terrelle Pryor chose Ohio State based on the journey that Troy Smith made. Pryor has the opportunity to become the third quarterback to lead Ohio State to three straight victories over Michigan, following in Troy’s footsteps, and the 2010 offense is arguably the most talented since that epic 2006 squad.

So as the season approaches, let’s think fondly of Troy Smith’s time with the Buckeyes, hope that Terrelle Pryor can come close to that standard, and most of all, hope for a better ending to the story.

The 2010 season is here, Go Bucks!

Troy Smith made my day

July 28, 2010

By Jill Donahue

Today I want to talk about minimalism in a different way -- in the context of how little it can take to make someone's day.

Yesterday, we went out to the Baltimore Ravens' training camp in Westminster, Maryland. I'd never been before, but I live with three sub four-foot football fans -- one of whom is a die-hard Ravens-backer. It was a lovely day, the first below 90 degrees in recent memory, with the sun shining and a light breeze. We had fun watching the rookies and quarterbacks run through their various drills -- and spotted a surprising number of veterans, including Haloti Ngata, Ed Reed (yes, I know, but my boys still love him), Mark Clayton, and Jarrett Johnson.

It wasn't crowded, owing in large part to the fact that most of the veterans are not at camp yet and because autographs are given only after the morning practice. Or so we thought. At the end of the afternoon practice, 2006 Heisman Trophy winner and backup quarterback Troy Smith unexpectedly jogged over to the sidelines and began to sign autographs. It probably only took a quarter of an hour, if that, for him to work his way down the line of autograph seekers. It's not as if Smith had to go far out of his way -- he probably hit the showers about the same time as the rest of the Ravens. Maybe Smith did it because he suspects his days in Baltimore are numbered. Who knows? Who cares? His mere attention for those few minutes suggested a generosity of spirit that made a number of little kids' -- and thus their parents' -- day.

What's the (minimalist) point? That even the smallest kindness -- try a smile -- can make a big difference. Maybe not for a lifetime, but for one day, one hour, one moment. Yesterday, Troy Smith made my day.