$1,600,000 NIL-valued Star Could’ve Gone To NFL Straight From High School, Claims Analyst

The college football season has not even started, and some players are already coming in with a ton of hype. One of them is Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. College football analyst Emory Hunt has been singing praises for the Buckeyes’ standout and drawing comparisons with some of the greats like Bo Jackson and Adrian Peterson.

Hunt added that Smith, who boasts a $1,600,000 NIL value, per On3,  could even have gone straight from high school to the NFL if that was allowed. Current rules forbid high school players from going straight to the league.

“A few guys I think could have played ball in the NFL right out of high school. You think of Herschel Walker, you think of Bo Jackson, you think of Adrian Peterson,” he said. “You look at someone like Jeremiah Smith… I felt like we’ve been watching a pro hone his craft for two years.”

When Smith was in high school, he played for Chaminade-Madonna and was ranked the No. 1 player nationally from the Class of 2024 by 247Sports, as well as being the No. 1 wide receiver and No. 1 in Florida. Schools were battling to get his commitment, with him ultimately going to Ohio State.

Jeremiah Smith Ranked No. 1 College Wide Receiver Coming Into 2026 Season

With the preseason college football buzz now going strong, FanSided has released their rankings on who they think are the top 10 best wide receivers right now. The list includes some big names such as No. 8 Dakorien Moore from Oregon, No. 5 Ryan Wingo from Texas and No. 2 Malachi Toney from Miami. However, just like in high school, Jeremiah Smith is still considered the No. 1 wide receiver.

The list noted his monstrous 2025 season stats, catching 87 passes for 1243 yards and 13 touchdowns. With the Big Ten being considered one of the most competitive conferences right now, he is expected to dominate there once again.

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