Wayne grad Blue Smith finds new college football home

Blue Smith has a new home.

The Wayne High School two-sport star announced Thursday he is transferring to the University of Cincinnati after leaving the Ohio State football program in March.

"Sometimes your path take a detour but the mission stays the same," he wrote on Instagram. "Second chances don't happen often but when they do you must be ready. #bearcatnation let's get it."

Later on Twitter he added a message thanking former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer, his successor Ryan Day and other members of the team and staff for their support while he was in Columbus.

Smith signed with Ohio State as a four-star recruit and the No. 126 player in the country in the class of 2018 according to 247Sports Composite rankings.

He played sparingly last season but took advantage of a new rule allowing players to participate in up to four games without losing a year of eligibility.

In January he said he had endured some ups and downs since arriving in Columbus last Summer but felt like he finished his first season with the Buckeyes on a high note.

>>READ MORE: Smith describes first season in Columbus | How Ohio State has recruited the area recently

Smith is the second OSU receiver to transfer to UC this spring, following walk-on Garyn Prater.

Smith will be the second former Warrior on the UC roster, joining 2019 signee Justin Harris.

Meanwhile, Wayne graduates Marcus Freeman and Mike Mickens are considered important pieces to head coach Luke Fickell’s coaching staff.

Smith’s departure left six local players on the Ohio State roster this spring: seniors Robert Landers (defensive tackle) and Derrick Malone (tight end, Thurgood Marshall), sophomore Josh Myers (offensive lineman, Miamisburg), redshirt freshmen Ben Schmiesing (linebacker, Piqua) and Zaid Hamdan (defensive lineman, Mason) and true freshman Alec Koch (receiver, Lebanon).

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