Former Buckeye hoping to impress the Bengals

Cincinnati — Corey Smith says all he wants is a chance to prove he can play, which is something he never really got in four years at Ohio State. The former Buckeyes receiver gets that chance as one of several free agents trying to make an impression at the Bengals rookie minicamp.

“I’m just going to go out there and compete and do what I’ve gotta do,” Smith said. “I know how to get open, I know how to catch the ball, and I’ve got a very high IQ of what to do when I’m out there.”

A rare junior college recruit at Ohio State, Smith caught 2 passes for 76 yards in the Buckeyes win over Oregon in the 2014 national championship game. The next season he broke his leg and missed the last of the 2015 schedule.

Smith spent more time on the sidelines than on the field in 2016, but he saved his best for last with a pair of catches against Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl.

“It’s feeling like I just got to Ohio State,” Smith said during a break in practice at Paul Brown Stadium. “I have to pick up the speed of the game, but it’s funny because everything coach (Urban) Meyer talked about is actually true.”