COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Already dealing with depth issues at wide receiver, Ohio State has lost a second contributor at the position for the rest of the season.
Coach Urban Meyer announced Monday that senior Corey Smith will miss the rest of the year after breaking his leg in Saturday's win over Indiana, another blow to a unit that was perhaps the biggest question mark heading into the start of the national title defense for the top-ranked Buckeyes.
"Corey Smith, we lost him for the rest of the season with a similar injury to Noah Brown," Meyer said. "One of my favorite players, a guy who has been through a lot in his life and certainly a lot here, but my heart bleeds for that guy along with the rest of the team.
"He's a kid that really spills it [with effort]. He was on all the special teams for us, played really, really hard."
Smith made his most notable marks as a blocker on the perimeter and covering kicks, but he was also a useful target for the Buckeyes in the passing game, with five receptions for 62 yards in four games following a one-week suspension to open the season.
The previous loss of projected starter Brown had already stretched the Buckeyes at receiver after also needing to replace Devin Smith and Evan Spencer, a talented tandem that graduated last season.