COLUMBUS, Ohio – Jeremiah Smith was touted as Ohio State University’s next big star long before he arrived on campus.
The pass-catching prodigy from Miami Gardens, Florida, was the highest-rated recruit in the country when he arrived in Columbus as an early enrollee in January amid massive hype.
Since then, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Smith has shown that he is exactly what everyone expects him to be for the Buckeyes’ No. 2 team.
He impressed coaches and teammates with his route running, acrobatic catches and trash talk against the Buckeyes’ experienced defensive backs.
He made Ohio State history as the first freshman ever to be named an “Iron Buckeye” as one of the top 10 strongest and toughest athletes during offseason training.
“It’s rare to find someone as talented as he is and also have really good discipline and skills at his age,” said Ohio State coach Ryan Day. “We haven’t played a game yet, but he definitely commands a lot of respect from his teammates.”
“He’s strong, he’s powerful and he’s big, but what impresses me the most is his work ethic,” Day said. “He’s physically strong — I mean, physically, he’ll wear you down. He takes his game very, very seriously. He works hard off the field.”
Smith, a cousin of Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith, rushed for over 3,000 yards and 45 touchdowns and led Hollywood, Florida-based private school Chaminade-Madonna to three consecutive state championships. During the recruiting process, Buckeyes fans showed up at his high school games.
“This has never happened to me at any other school,” Smith said.
In other words, he is used to the attention he is getting now.
“I know the expectations are high because I’m the best player in the country and there’s so much hype around me,” Smith said. “I try to block all that out and focus on the basics, just the team, our receiver room and the locker room. I know when the first game comes and I don’t meet the expectations you have for me, I don’t care. I just want to go out there and win a game. That’s all.”
The Buckeyes already have a projected No. 1 receiver in Emeka Egbuka, who skipped the NFL Draft to return for a fourth season and showcase his talent from the shadow of superstar Marvin Harrison Jr. Egbuka is the only receiver on the roster with any significant experience.
Smith will likely be in the starting lineup immediately, but he said he’s willing to be patient, noting that Harrison played behind future first-round draft picks Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave before breaking out in 2022 with 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Smith committed to Ohio State in 2022. He continued to talk to other schools, which gave Day some anxious moments before he signed in December. He has been surrounded by excitement ever since.
“It’s a blessing,” Smith said of all the attention. “But you don’t want the hype and all the other stuff that’s going on around you to affect you. I just stay focused and look for ways to get better every day.”
His teammates are impressed by how hard he works.
“He has all the physical attributes you need, so he’s got to catch up mentally,” Egbuka said. “It can be difficult for a freshman because there’s so much going through your mind, especially with all the praise he’s getting. But he’s taking it as well as he can and doing great.”
The Buckeyes will play their first home game against Akron on August 31.
