Countdown to Kickoff: 73 Days (Ryan Smith)

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

#73

The Hoosier Huddle Countdown rolls on! The countdown is now more than 25% complete and we are creeping ever closer to the beginning of the Indiana Hoosiers 2016 season. Today, we continue to focus on the offensive line as we introduce you to another new member of Greg Frey’s line: true freshman Ryan Smith!

Ryan Smith (Incoming Freshman)

-Height: 6’5”
-Weight: 275 pounds
-Hometown: Cincinnati, OH (Archbishop Moeller)
-Position: Offensive Line

A little more than a year ago (June 9, 2015), the Hoosiers added the second commitment to their 2016 recruiting class as offensive lineman Ryan Smith joined fellow Ohioan Peyton Ramsey in pledging his services to IU. Smith, a starter at Cincinnati power Archbishop Moeller High School, comes to Bloomington at 6’5” and nearly 280 pounds and he chose the Hoosiers over interest from Cincinnati, Purdue, Wisconsin and others. He was a 3-star prospect and rated as the one of the better offensive line prospects in Ohio. His highlight film showed he has the ideal size for a Big Ten lineman with a frame that can add some weight. In addition, his high school coaches felt he was ready for a breakout and that he played with the physicality every offensive line coach wants his linemen to play with. 

As we’ve written many times, the offensive line is a major area of strength for Indiana. The Hoosiers have talent, experience and depth on the line and it appears highly likely they will have the luxury of redshirting Ryan Smith during his first season in Bloomington. This will allow him to adjust to the college game and the IU program, gain weight and muscle and, most importantly, it will allow him an extra year of eligibility when he should theoretically be at his best. Smith’s size, length and balance allows some flexibility in where he will ultimately end up playing and I imagine the coaches won’t make a decision about whether he’ll play guard or tackle. Rather, he may work at both spots this season on the practice squad and then his performance, or the depth chart next season, will dictate where he’ll line up for the 2017 season. My guess is that he’ll end up as a guard, a position IU will be looking for two new starters in after the graduation of Jacob Bailey and Dan Feeney following the 2016 season. Smith doesn’t figure to factor in to the 2016 depth chart but he’s another talented piece to be crafted into the next generation of IU’s offensive line.

Share your thoughts or expectations for Ryan Smith and the rest of the Hoosiers offensive line in our comments section (or on the message boards) and be sure to come back to Hoosier Huddle each day during our countdown!