BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Anytime a football player steps on the field and Robert Smith’s name is brought up in postgame talk, something good must have happened.

Just ask Lydell Ross.

Ross, the 17-year-old freshman running back, rushed for 124 yards and two scores on 25 carries Saturday against Indiana, becoming the first freshman to eclipse the 100-yard mark since Robert Smith did in 1990.

“It was almost like a dream come true,” Ross said. “To come out here and for us to win like that, it’s great.”

“I felt pretty good,” Ross said. “The offensive line was just opening holes every play. They were giving me good reads so I could read off the blocks. So at times I felt like I was in… a little grove.”

All week head coach Jim Tressel had called for all-around offensive improvement, not just from the quarterback position.

Ross answered the call.

The freshman played like the former Colts and Chargers star Lydell Mitchell whom he was named after. Pummeling the Hoosier defense for 69 yards on 16 carries in the first quarter alone.

“Lydell has been earning the opportunity to play and we always want to be able to come at defenses with a change of tempo,” Tressel said. “I think perhaps when (Wells) and (Maldonado) were the lead two, we were bringing the same tempo at our opponents. I think when you sneak the younger guys in all of the sudden… you change the tempo. Lydell knew he was going to get some (carries).”

Ross said after John Cooper was fired he wasn’t sure about attending OSU. Ross’ father Melvin Ross, a former Indiana running back, wanted his son to attend Notre Dame or Florida, but after meeting with Tressel, Ross was sold on Columbus.

Lydell impressed 48,577 in attendance and his teammates.

“Everyone knew it was coming, eventually. If he just got the shot,” said OSU linebacker Matt Whilhelm.

“It is kind of weird, I’m astounded,” Ross said. “I had a great game. I loved every second.”

Ross wasn’t the only young Buckeye impressing.

Sophomore wide receiver Michael Jenkins paced the Buckeyes with 60 yards on three catches Saturday and leads OSU with 117 yards on the season.

Are the Buckeye offensive threats a freshman and a sophomore?

“Why not?” said OSU center LeCharles Bentley. “They showed they can do some special things today. I expect them to be special players in big games.”

On the defensive side another youngster stepped up.

With Indiana down 27-14 in the fourth quarter Indiana quarterback Antwaan Randle-El completed a 22-yard pass to tight end Ryan Dielman who than had the ball knocked loose on the OSU 31 yard line by freshman safety Dustin Fox. OSU cornerback Derek Ross recovered the fumble, but Fox iced the game.

“We want to get these (young players) out there and use all their talent,” said OSU safety Mike Doss. “We recruit these guys, and want to get them in early and I think (Fox) stepped up for us.”