Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith showcased himself as a freak of nature during his true freshman season in 2024. One stat encapsulates just how athletic he is and how potentially nobody in college football in 2025 can match up.
Buckeyes Wide Receiver Jeremiah Smith the Only Returning Player To Reach 21+ MPH in 2024
Smith set himself apart from every other wide receiver in college football in 2024, just his true freshman season.
It began on his own team, when he quickly supplanted fellow receiver and expected first-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, Emeka Egbuka, as the team’s No. 1 receiving option.
Then, it became clear that he was the best freshman in the sport. Soon enough, he was widely known as the best wide receiver in college football — with some saying he was already the best player, period.
The fact that he played a majority of the season at only 18 years old is objectively absurd.
On the season, he totaled 76 catches for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns. He capped it off with a national championship-sealing 56-yard reception against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
OHIO STATE PHENOM FRESHMAN JEREMIAH SMITH MADE THE BIGGEST CATCH OF THE NATTY AS THE BUCKEYES TOOK DOWN NOTRE DAME TO WIN THE #CFBPLAYOFF TITLE 🔥 pic.twitter.com/jERNImQYGA
— Def Pen Sports (@DefPenSports) January 21, 2025
It was truly a storybook season for the Buckeye freshman. But among many feats, one may put into perspective just how far above Smith is from his competition heading into 2025.
Of all the players returning to college football next season, Smith is the only one to reach 21+ mph — something he did twice.
CSN’s Cam Mellor said it best:
“At 6’3, 215-pounds — somehow Smith reached 21.7 mph (and 21.2 mph and 20.9 mph) this season, in a ridiculous display of size, power, speed, and athleticism. The future is quite bright.”
Reminder that @OhioStateFB WR Jeremiah Smith is a special dude.
At 6’3, 215 pounds — somehow Smith reached 21.7 mph (and 21.2 mph and 20.9 mph) this season, in a ridiculous display of size, power, speed, and athleticism. The future is quite bright.pic.twitter.com/wlyKnHmpNB
— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) December 24, 2024
Mellor went on to display a simple five-yard hitch that Smith took to the house in Week 2 against the Western Michigan Broncos. Smith simply ran faster than anyone else on the field en route to scoring the third touchdown of his career.
KEEP READING: Former All-Pro WR Shocked To Find Out Jeremiah Smith’s NIL Earnings
The eye test on Smith is ridiculous. The measurables resemble a Julio Jones-esque player — who hasn’t even turned 20 yet.
But the next-gen stats provide an even clearer picture of the truly unstoppable nature of the Buckeyes’ top pass catcher — by the numbers, the fastest returning player in college football.
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