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Smith helped Griffin
COLUMBUS-- Ted Smith, a former Ohio State offensive lineman who helped anchor the Buckeyes' front line during the 1970s under legendary coach Woody Hayes, died Saturday. He was 69.
Smith, a native of Springfield, Ohio, was a three-year starter at guard from 1972 to 1974. He played a key role in Ohio State's Big Ten championship teams and blocked for two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin.
"Ted was a tough, dependable presence on the line, and his impact on those dominant Buckeye teams can't be overstated," Ohio State said in a statement Sunday. "He embodied what it meant to be a Buckeye."
After his college career, Smith was selected by the Washington Redskins in the 1975 NFL Draft but never appeared in a regular-season game. He later returned to Springfield, where he spent decades coaching and mentoring young athletes in the community.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Barton charged in fatal crash
DUBLIN -- Kirk Barton, a former Ohio State football standout and one-time NFL draft pick, has been charged with aggravated vehicular homicide following a fatal crash early Saturday in suburban Columbus.
Barton, 40, was driving a Ford F-150 Raptor westbound in the eastbound lanes of U.S. Route 33 around 2:56 a.m. when he collided head-on with a Lexus driven by 24-year-old Ethan Wence Perry of Dublin, according to police. Perry was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities said Barton appeared impaired at the scene, displaying bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and an odor of alcohol. He was taken to Riverside Methodist Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries before being booked into the Franklin County Jail. His bond was set at $500,000 during a court appearance Monday.
Barton is charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, a second-degree felony. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 1.
A native of Massillon, Barton was a first-team All-American right tackle at Ohio State in 2007 and served as a team captain. He was selected in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears and had brief stints with several teams before retiring from professional football.
In recent years, Barton co-founded Buckeye Scoop, a website covering Ohio State athletics. He was banned from the university's athletic facilities in 2021 for filming an unauthorized football practice.
Court records show Barton was also charged with felonious assault in 2018 following an altercation with a police officer, though the outcome of that case was not immediately available.
The crash remains under investigation.