True freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith joined Ohio State as an early enrollee, turning heads from Day 1. But Smith proved he isn’t just a training camp star, dazzling in his first half of collegiate action in Week 1.
Jeremiah Smith As Good As Advertised in Week 1
Akron landed as the No. 129 team in College Football Network’s Week 0 Power Rankings. Ohio State was No. 1.
The Buckeyes rightfully entered the contest as 48.5-point home favorites, and while the score is only 17-3 at halftime, Smith has already begun to tap into the potential many around the program raved about this offseason.
After dropping his first pass, Smith took his next five catches for 47 yards and two scores, both of which were contested end zone grabs.
Head coach Ryan Day and co-offensive coordinator/WRs coach Brian Hartline typically lean toward more experienced players on the outside, with Marvin Harrison Jr. — arguably the top WR from the Ohio State-to-NFL pipeline that includes Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba — only having 11 receptions, 139 yards, and three TDs (6-71-3 of which came in the Rose Bowl that year) his true freshman season.
However, a mix of need and Smith’s raw talent have led him to receive looks early and often in Game 1.
Outside of Emeka Egbuka, who has a 1,000-yard season under his belt and could’ve had another last season were it not for injuries, the Buckeyes have high-pedigree, low-experience WRs on the depth chart in Carnell Tate (2023 five-star), Brandon Inness (2023 five-star), and Jayden Bullard (2021 four-star).
Competing at Chaminade-Madonna Prep in Florida, Smith won three straight state titles to end his high school career. He finished with 177 catches, 3,116 yards, and 46 TDs, averaging a 59-1,038-15 stat line across three seasons.
If that wasn’t enough, Smith also ran track, qualifying in the state 110- and 400-meter hurdles in his last three years, taking home gold medals in both during the Florida 1A meet in 2022.
He wasn’t just the No. 1 WR recruit or No. 1 prospect in the state — Smith was the No. 1 player in the 2024 cycle, receiving offers from practically every top program in the nation.
His decision came down to Ohio State and Miami, but he ultimately went with who’s developing receivers into first-rounders.
Former Ohio State WR and current free agent Michael Thomas named Smith “the next great one” on X in the spring, and Egbuka called him a “freak athlete.”
Yet, Smith has not let the hype get to him, saying earlier this month, “I just keep my head down, just find ways to get better each and every day.”
Too much pressure can crush a player, and too much hype can create unattainable expectations. But neither seems to be the case for Smith. He’s better than the big-bodied threat social media videos indicate, as he generates separation with snappy hips and dynamic athleticism.
The scariest part? Hartline believes Smith is only scratching the surface.
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“I love the way he approaches things. I love the questions he asks. I love the way he makes mistakes and then corrects mistakes. It’s very veteran-like,” Hartline said in the spring.
“I mean, there’s so much ball he has to learn. Like, he literally does things that are good, and I’m like, ‘You know why that worked?’ He goes, ‘Coach, I have no frickin’ idea.’ So I’m trying to teach him all of that, why it works. So then the consistency at which it works just goes through the roof. But I’m very excited and proud of the conversations we’re currently having, and I’m excited for them to keep going.”
It’s only Week 1, but it’s clear that Jeremiah Smith isn’t just meeting expectations — he’s redefining them, and Ohio State fans should be excited for what’s to come.
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