The starting left guard for both of Archie Griffin’s Heisman-winning seasons died over the weekend.
Ted Smith, who manned the left guard position for the Buckeyes in both 1974 and 1975 as Griffin won the Heisman Trophy in both seasons, died Saturday at 71 years old.
Smith earned consensus All-American honors in his final season as a Buckeye.
A native of Gibsonburg, Ohio, Smith started his Ohio State career in 1972 as a linebacker, but moved to guard at the beginning of his junior year. He told the Toledo Blade in 2009 that he wasn’t keen on the idea of moving to the offensive line at first, but ultimately realized Woody Hayes made the right decision by asking him to change positions.