Jersey #: 34 (2016-17), 1 (2014-15)

Major: Sociology (2016-17), Undeclared (2015)

Weight: 203 (2016-17), 202 (2015), 185 (2014)

2017 Media Guide: Erick Smith is a true senior who is competing for a starting position at safety … he is one of the most experienced safeties on the roster with 33 games played and 162 snaps on defense,
plus an additional 369 special teams snaps … the two-time Varsity O letterwinner has 35 career tackles plus an interception and pass break-up to his credit.

2016: Smith played in all 13 games for the Buckeyes … he was credited with 16 tackles, one tackle-for-loss and a pass break-up … he was in on a personal best four tackles – all solo stops – against Bowling Green and then matched the total against Nebraska.

2016 Media Guide: Erick Smith is a talented safety prospect who is in his third year performing for the Buckeyes … he did not participate in 2016 spring drills after missing half of the 2015 season with a knee injury … the true junior is one of the most experienced returning safeties on the team with 20 games played and 297 plays, including 77 snaps on defense in his first two seasons … he has 19 career tackles and one fumble recovery … Smith, who will wear jersey No. 34 this year after wearing No. 1 his first two years, earned his first Varsity O letter as a true freshman in 2014.

2015: Smith played in the first five games of the season before injuring his knee and missing the remainder of the season … he totaled 88 plays, or an average of just under 18 per game … most of his action came on special teams … totaled six tackles on the year.

2015 Media Guide: Erick Smith is a second-year performer for the Buckeyes and already good enough that one of the safeties on the Ohio State depth chart ahead of him – Tyvis Powell – says you wouldn’t even notice a difference if Smith was in the game ahead of either Powell or Vonn Bell … he’s that good … Smith earned his first Varsity O letter as a true freshman in 2014.

2014: Smith played in 14 of 15 games for the College Football Playoff national champions … his play was mostly on special teams, but he did have a couple of extensive stints on defense: 18 snaps against Kent State and 31 vs. Illinois … was on multiple special teams by the time the season ended and totaled a combined 41 plays in the post-season wins over Wisconsin, Alabama and Oregon … recorded 13 tackles on the season and one interception, vs. Kent State.

High School: Another fine safety prospect out of the talent-rich Glenville High School program (think former Buckeyes like Christian Bryant, Jermale Hines and Donte Whitner), Erick Smith was a consensus
four-star recruit and a Top 100 player in the nation with overall national rankings of No. 43 by Scout, No. 51 by Rivals and No. 61 by 247Sports … one of the leaders of a 2013 Glenville Tarblooder team that went 13-2 and advanced to the Division II state championship game … considered a Top 5 safety prospect by two recruiting services: No. 2 by 247Sports, No. 4 by Scout … rated the No. 11 safety by ESPN … No. 2 ranked player in Ohio by Scout … had 10 tackles and forced a fumble in the state title game and had a “pick six” in the state semifinals … a U.S. Army All-American and a third-team
Division II Associated Press all-state pick … one of three Tarblooders – OL Marcelys Jones and CB Marshon Lattimore are the others – in this recruiting class.

Personal: Is the son of Erica and Curtis Smith.