Jeremiah Smith’s spectacular freshman season has renewed the debate about whether players should have to wait three years to enter the NFL draft. But the former Ohio State star who tried to change that rule two decades ago says there’s “no need” for Smith – or any other college football player – to try to change that rule now.
Twenty-two years before Smith became Ohio State’s biggest star as a true freshman and led Ohio State to a national championship, Maurice Clarett did the same in 2002. Clarett broke Ohio State’s freshman rushing records by running for 1,237 yards and 18 touchdowns and delivered in a huge way in the Buckeyes’ national title game win over Miami.