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Fullback Smith is ready, sore feet and all
Friday, September 5, 2008
By Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

He's got sore feet, but he's going to start in the backfield anyway for Ohio State on Saturday against Ohio University.

No, not tailback Chris "Beanie" Wells. Coach Jim Tressel announced yesterday that Wells will not play but will instead let his injured right foot fully heal for next week's game at Southern California.

This story is about fifth-year senior fullback Brandon Smith. He suffers from chronic turf toe in both feet. But with this being his first season as a bona fide starter, he'd likely run barefoot on hot coals if it means playing.

Finally, the linebacker-turned-tight end-turned-fullback has a spot he can call his own, and he wants to be out there as much as possible.

"The neat thing about Brandon Smith is that he has worked hard for four years already; this is his fifth year, so it doesn't surprise me that he is ready to contribute," running backs coach Dick Tressel said. "That's the kind of person he is. He's persistent; adversity didn't bother him."

His feet have bothered him for years, but he tries not to show it. Senior tight end Rory Nicol, a close friend, has watched Smith deal with it.

"He said something to me the other day, 'I'd love to just sit down for a week and not even walk on my feet,' but unfortunately, you need 'em," Nicol said.

It's not that Smith believes he deserves a pat on the back for playing with pain.

"I think it's just part of football," Smith said. "I don't think any guy is 100 percent healthy. Something is aching. There's some pain somewhere. You've just got to learn to play with it and fight through it."

BuckeyeXtra - The Columbus Dispatch : Fullback Smith is ready, sore feet and all