Troy Smith to Start for 49ers: Why Ohio State QBs Can't Cut It in the NFL
Troy Smith's glorious career at Ohio State wasn't enough to make many people believe he could be a reliable starter in the NFL.
Four years into his pro career, Smith will get a chance to show what he can do when he starts for the 49ers against the Broncos this week in London.
If history is any indication, he probably won't have a great deal of success.
Smith certainly isn't the first former Buckeye quarterback to struggle at the next level.
Here's a look at how nine of Ohio State's best quarterbacks fared in the NFL and what exactly went wrong.
No. 9: Tom Tupa
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Tupa was a backup quarterback at Ohio State for three years before taking over as the starter in 1987.
During that time, he also served as the Buckeyes' punter.
After a decent season as a starter in which he threw for over 2,000 yards and tossed 15 touchdowns, he was selected by the Cardinals in the third round of the NFL draft.
He started 11 games during his second season in the NFL and threw six touchdowns against 13 interceptions while posting a 4-7 record under center.
After that, he focused solely on punting.
He had a long career as a punter for five different NFL teams, even making the Pro Bowl in 1999 as a member of the Jets.
What Went Wrong
Just not enough talent to play quarterback.
Tupa was prone to throwing interceptions and clearly better suited to be a punter in the NFL.
In the end, his career turned out to be pretty nice.
No. 8: Craig Krenzel
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Krenzel was never spectacular, but he made the most of his ability and led Ohio State to a national championship.
And as the media loved to remind us, he was also really smart.
He is ranked low on this list simply because almost everyone knew he would never make it in the NFL.
That didn't stop the Bears from drafting him in the fifth round.
After a myriad of injuries, Krenzel actually got on the field for Chicago as a rookie.
His stats were awful, but he posted a 3-2 record as a starter thanks to his defense.
That was it for his NFL career.
What Went Wrong
A glaring lack of arm strength.
At least Krenzel knew his limitations.
No. 7: Mike Tomczak
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Tomczak started three seasons at Ohio State, helping the Bucks to a pair of Big Ten titles.
His numbers were never great, and having Keith Byars in the backfield certainly made his life easier.
He wasn't drafted but went on to have a 15-year NFL career.
His best season came in 1996 when he started 15 games and led the Steelers to the playoffs.
What Went Wrong
Tomczak was just an average quarterback.
He wasn't mobile, didn't have a strong arm and didn't take particularly good care of the ball.
In the end, the longevity of his career speaks for itself. He wasn't a total failure by any stretch.
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No. 6: Kent Graham
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Graham started only one full season at Ohio State before the Giants drafted him in the eighth round in 1992.
Injuries vaulted him into the starting lineup late in his rookie season.
The best year of his mediocre NFL career came in Arizona in 1996, when he tossed 12 touchdowns.
He ended up playing nine years in the league before calling it quits after the 2001 season.
What Went Wrong
Graham got chances to start in both Arizona and New York in his second stint with the Giants but never produced a successful season as a full-time starter.
No. 5: Steve Bellisari
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Bellisari had a knack for turning the ball over at the wrong time during his three years as the starting quarterback for Ohio State, but he had a decent arm and was a very good athlete.
The Rams drafted him late in the 2002 NFL Draft.
He was promptly moved to safety.
What Went Wrong
Bellisari could have used Craig Krenzel's smarts.
He never made an NFL roster—as a safety or a quarterback.
No. 4: Bobby Hoying
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Hoying was a four-year starter at Ohio State, piling up great numbers while playing alongside a wealth of talented offensive players.
Raymond Harris, Eddie George, Orlando Pace and Terry Glenn, just to name a few.
Despite little mobility and an average arm, the Eagles made him a third-round pick in 1996.
He posted a 3-9-1 record while starting parts of two seasons for Philadelphia and retired in 2001 after suffering an arm injury.
What Went Wrong
Even before the elbow injury that ended his career, it was clear Hoying simply didn't have the arm strength to make it in the NFL.
No. 3: Joe Germaine
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Germaine split time with running quarterback Stanley Jackson at Ohio State before becoming a full-time starter in 1998.
He unleashed a fantastic senior season, throwing for over 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns.
The Rams drafted him in the fourth round of the 1999 draft, and he appeared in three games as a rookie.
He bounced around the NFL for a few more years, never appearing in a game before trying the Arena League.
What Went Wrong
Playing behind Kurt Warner and Trent Green didn't help matters, but Germaine never seemed to have enough talent to really have a chance in the NFL.
Like many of his Buckeye counterparts, he was lucky to have plenty of talent around him in college to help him look good.
No. 2: Troy Smith
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Once he got on the field ahead of Justin Zwick, Smith became a dominant dual-threat quarterback at Ohio State.
He captured the 2006 Heisman Trophy in a landslide after throwing for 30 touchdowns against just six interceptions while leading the Buckeyes to a spot in the national championship game.
His small stature (listed at 6'0") was attributed for his fall to the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft.
What Has Gone Wrong
The size is a problem, as is the arm strength.
Smith's abilities as a runner worked in college but aren't good enough to make him a capable starter in the NFL.
Now, with only a few days of work with the 49ers' first team offense under his belt, he gets another chance to show why his weaknesses outweigh his strengths.
No. 1: Art Schlichter
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Schlichter was a tremendous college player who had all the makings of a great NFL quarterback.
But it never happened.
Despite rumblings of an addiction to gambling, the then-Baltimore Colts decided to select Schlichter with the fourth overall pick of the 1982 NFL Draft.
He lasted just three seasons in the NFL and never won a game as a starting quarterback.
What Went Wrong
Schlichter's gambling problems ruined any chance of succeeding in the NFL.
The league suspended him after he went to the FBI to seek protection from bookies, and he was suspended again after being reinstated in 1985.
After that, his well-documented addiction led to a divorce and over 10 years in prison for a variety of crimes.
Could Terrelle Pryor Be the Next to Fail?
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Terrelle Pryor is much more mobile and appears to have a stronger arm than any of his predecessors.
That doesn't mean he will be a good quarterback in the NFL.
Pryor has improved as a passer, but he has yet to pick apart a great defense through the air.
He isn't a particularly accurate thrower, and it remains to be seen if he can grasp complicated NFL offenses without relying solely on his legs.
Since he will be a high draft pick, Pryor will get every chance to succeed in the NFL.
Only time will tell if he can manage to alter the fortunes of former Buckeye quarterbacks at the next level.
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