Robert Smith Looks at USC

Robert Smith might wind up in the USC backfield yet.

The former Ohio State tailback, who quit the Buckeyes in August because of a conflict with the coaching staff, has inquired about transferring to USC, his second choice when he signed with Ohio State in the spring of 1990.

Jim Jones, Ohio State athletic director, said Wednesday his office has sent a letter to USC that would enable Smith to discuss a transfer with Trojan officials.

NCAA regulations prohibit USC officials from discussing a potential transfer until a release has been received from Ohio State.

“Robert Smith contacted us, but we immediately told him that we couldn’t talk to him until we received a letter of release from Ohio State,” USC Coach Larry Smith said in a statement. “We have not received that letter yet.”

Twice chosen Mr. Football in Ohio and a former state sprint champion, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Smith rushed for 1,126 yards last season, averaging 6.4 yards a carry and breaking Archie Griffin’s school freshman rushing record.

He ranked third in the Big Ten in rushing and second in all-purpose yardage and was named national freshman of the year by United Press International. He also was the Big Ten freshman of the year.

A premedical student, Smith left the team before the start of this season, saying that the coaching staff did not give academics a high priority. He has continued to attend classes at Ohio State and is on a track scholarship.

Under NCAA transfer rules, Smith would be eligible to play for USC in 1993, with two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Smith said last season before a game against USC that he had come close to signing with the Trojans out of Euclid (Ohio) High School, where he rushed for 5,308 yards and 34 touchdowns and was state 100-meter champion as a junior, runner-up as a senior.

“If USC was in Ohio, I’d probably be at USC,” Smith said. “It’s just that I didn’t think that USC was so much better that it could draw me 2,000 miles. If it weren’t for the distance, I’d be out there.”

Smith ran for 54 yards in a 35-26 loss to the Trojans last season.

He ended the season with five 100-yard rushing games.