5 Big Ten Players Facing a Make-or-Break Spring (O.J. Smith, DL, Minnesota)

BleedGopher

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per Athlon:

O.J. Smith, DL, Minnesota

In Smith’s case, his shot at one good spring to prove he can contribute is quite literal. The Alabama transfer sat out 2017 in the hopes he could cement himself as a terror on P.J. Fleck’s defensive front this year.

Expectations should be rather high for Smith as he was a 2014 Under Armour All-American Game participant, and while he was unable to make hay at Alabama, Nick Saban typically doesn’t give scrubs the time of day.

Minnesota finished the 2017 season 74th in rushing defense at 172 yards per game allowed, including three occasions where the Gophers surrendered 240-plus yards on the ground. There’s clearly a big need up front with starting tackles Steven Richardson and Merrick Jackson both graduated. Smith has the size (6-2, 309) to be a factor up front for Minnesota’s defense. He also has one more chance to live up to the hype he received coming out of high school.

https://athlonsports.com/college-fo...ball-players-facing-make-or-break-spring-2018

Go Gophers!!
 




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