Ohio State Football: 5 commits in 2018 class who’ll have instant impact

2. L’Christian Smith, 4-star WR

Ohio State’s top three receivers Parris Campbell, Terry McLaurin, and Johnnie Dixon all decided to forgo the NFL another year and return for their senior years. With receivers K.J. Hill, Austin Mack and Binjimen Victor also in the fold, it will be difficult for one of the Buckeyes three wide receiver recruits to crack the depth chart. My pick, however, to earn playing time this year out of the three is L’Christian Smith.

Smith is a four-star athlete and ranked 120th in the nation in the 2018 recruiting class. Native to Ohio, the six-foot-six 205 pound receiver has the build of a tight end, but he should earn playing time as a wide receiver.

While Campbell, McLaurin and Dixon are assured to be the go to receivers again, they will not be in Columbus past another season. Urban Meyer does not like to use redshirts and Smith’s build is just too tantalizing to keep him off the field. At 6-foot-6, Smith will create matchup nightmares for any Big Ten secondary. If a linebacker has to cover him, it would be even more of a mismatch.

While the safer bet would be Smith receiving a redshirt with all the talent returning, I believe he will earn early playing time. Meyer can see what he has in the young athletic receiver right away and the experience gained will prove valuable in the future.