Wayne grad can play at UC right away

Smith, who transferred from Ohio State, wins favorable NCAA ruling.

Ohio State could see a familiar face in uniform when the University of Cincinnati football team comes to town Sept. 7.

L’Christian “Blue” Smith, a receiver from Wayne High School who transferred from OSU to UC in late spring, has been granted a waiver for immediate eligibility by the NCAA.

The 6-foot-5, 210-pound Smith took a redshirt for his first year in Columbus, where he got off to a slow start last summer.

“I was very, very raw when I got here from high school, so it was just about fine-tuning everything,” he said in January, including his speed and ability to run pass routes. “Everything had to be refined, so it was a really big adjustment.”

In March, Ohio State coach Ryan Day said Smith had voluntarily left the program, and Smith announced in May he would join a Cincinnati roster that includes 16 area players, including Justin Harris, a freshman defensive back from Wayne.

A UC athletics department spokesman said coach Luke Fickell is not making freshmen and newcomers available for interviews, but Fickell told reporters at the Bearcats’ preseason training camp in West Harrison, Indiana the Smith decision is good news not just for the player and program but also the NCAA.

The organization has drawn the ire of UC fans for denying a waiver for offensive lineman James Hudson, who cited mental health issues in deciding to leave Michigan for Cincinnati.

“It is what it is, but I think when (the NCAA) looks into it and evaluates what’s best for these guys, in particular with Blue, they got it right,” said Fickell, who also indicated Ohio State supported Smith’s appeal for immediate playing time.

“I’m happy for what Ohio State did for us and for Blue, really trying to help him out and make this possible,” said Fickell, a former

Buckeye defensive lineman and assistant coach.

Smith was a multi-sport standout at Wayne, where he was a four-star recruit and the No. 126 player in the country according to 247Sports Composite rankings.

He caught 54 passes for 869 yards and nine touchdowns for the Warriors as a senior on the gridiron and averaged 11.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per game in basketball.

Other Bearcats from the area are Tavion Thomas (Dunbar), Leonard Taylor (Springfield), Cole Smith (Middletown), Ryan Montgomery (Franklin), Tyler Inloes (Lebanon), Michael Kopaygorodsky (Mason), Will Adams (Mason), Jake Tewart (Lebanon), Malik Vann (Fairfield), Darius Harper (Springfield), Cody Lamb (Miamisburg), Jonathan Allen (Dunbar), Jack Campbell (Bellbrook) and Bryant Johnson II (Butler).