Diamonds are formed under pressure! The CFB world has come to see Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith as a dynamic player. An intimidating 6’3, 215-pounder. He found a place at the top six in receiving yards after racking up 1,224 yards and 14 touchdowns on 70 catches as a true freshman this past season. He’s one of the biggest CFB sensations right now. But what if we tell you that he faced a point in his life where he thought his football career was over before it even began? 

Can you even imagine anyone cutting Jeremiah Smith off from their team because he’s not good enough? Here’s a shocker. A sports insider revealed a shocking backstory of the Buckeyes star receiver on Instagram on January 6. The caption in the video read—“Jeremiah Smith was cut from his youth football team. It turned him into the best WR prospect ever.” 

The phrase ‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure’ never rang more true in Jeremiah Smith’s case. It was the summer of 2013. He was just seven, waiting at his first ever football tackle tryout to become a football player. But his local team coach cut him off after the weeklong tryouts on grounds of incompetence. In this moment of hopelessness, the disillusioned young Smith found the will to persevere, and it’s thanks to his father.

Following the rejection, Chris Smith took the matter upon himself to turn the adversity into motivation. Per the report, “Every weekend, he would take Jeremiah to work out with the best football trainers in South Florida. And he would also go with his son to watch the football practices of the teams he didn’t make.” The preparation changed everything when he reappeared for the 2014 football tryouts.

He was far better than anyone else. He spent his early teens working himself out to become “the best talent to ever come out of South Florida.” Now, as he leads OSU to the CFP semifinals, he’s viewed as the most significant threat to their playoff opponent. 

Jeremiah Smith earns high praise from Texas players

After knocking No. 1 Oregon out of the playoff picture, Ohio State advances to the Cotton Bowl against Steve Sarkisian and Texas. Ahead of the game, the Longhorns players expressed their admiration for Jeremiah Smith while also viewing him as a huge threat. Texas safety Michael Taaffe said, “There’s no way that he’s actually 18. He’s a dog.” Yes, he turned 19 in November, and he is a dog! The way he performed in the playoffs is a testament to it. 

In the first CFP round against Tennessee, Jeremiah Smith recorded 103 yards and two touchdowns on six catches. In the quarterfinals against the Ducks, he caught seven passes for 187 yards and two scores. Another Longhorns DB, Jahdae Barron, said, “That kid can b—. He’s a big baller. Strong, strong ability. He’s a deep threat, and they love to give him the b— and they love to create opportunities to get him the b—.” 

We don’t know what could go down in the Cotton Bowl on January 10 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. What we do know is that Ohio State is favored by 5.5 points in this matchup.