Former Ohio State Football Star Dead At 71 originally appeared on The Spun.
A former Ohio State Buckeyes football star has died at the age of 71.
Archie Griffin’s longtime teammate, Ted Smith, passed away over the weekend. Smith was an All-American offensive lineman who helped Griffin win two Heisman Trophies. Griffin remains the only player in college football history to win two Heisman Trophies.
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Smith was a consensus All-American in his final season with the Buckeyes. Eleven Warriors confirmed his passing on Monday afternoon, June 23.
“Ted Smith, an All-American former Ohio State guard who helped pave the way for Archie Griffin’s two Heisman-winning seasons, died Saturday at 71 years old,” Eleven Warriors reported.
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 01: An Ohio State Buckeye helmet is seen on the sidelines prior to the start of the game during the All State Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Smith started his career as a linebacker, though he made the switch to offensive line, becoming one of the best in Ohio State history.
“I played offensive line at 6-foot-1 and about 257 pounds. That was a decent size back then, but that would be small by today’s standards. The athletes are so much bigger and faster today. The game has changed a lot, in a lot of ways, but it still comes down to blocking and tackling. We used to just line up, knock people down, and then hand the ball to Archie Griffin. I was fortunate to play with an outstanding player like Archie. He is the same now as he was way back then – very humble and very appreciative of the talents he was given. He never thought he was better than anyone else, even with two Heisman Trophies. And he still appreciates his offensive linemen,” he told the Toledo Blade.
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“I felt really honored to be named All-American as a senior. We had four guys from that team that made first team All-American, and that is a lot. Of course there was Archie; and Tim Fox, a safety; and our punter Tom Skladany, and myself. It was a great group of guys. We went to the Rose Bowl all four years I was there at Ohio State. Back then, before all this BCS and the national championship games, going to the Rose Bowl was very, very important. As a Buckeye, you wanted your season to end in Pasadena on January 1st.”
Smith remained an Ohio State Buckeyes fan until his death. According to his obituary, Smith “was a die-hard Ohio State Buckeyes football fan, cheering passionately on game days and instilling that same love of the game in his family.”
Our thoughts are with his friends and family members following his passing.
Former Ohio State Football Star Dead At 71 first appeared on The Spun on Jun 23, 2025
This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.