The term “true freshman” just doesn’t equate to the same anymore. The times of frail, cagey highschoolers making the step-up are a thing of the past. No more cagey, only courageous. Athletes now are often ready right off the conveyor belt at the proverbial talent factory. Hardly any growing pains or bedding-in period required. One player at Ryan Day’s Ohio State is the epitome of this evolution. Labelling Jeremiah Smith a freshman or a prodigy is a disservice to his other talented peers. Still only 19, he’s already earned plaudits as one of the best in the sport. Certainly in his own position group. 

Jeremiah Smith is a rule-breaker who’s thwarting all sorts of convention and norm. This has led to a fascinating premise already regarding his future in the NFL. Which by all accords is only a matter of when, not if. The premise is founded on the basis that if Jeremiah is clearly someone who can skip the line and move ahead to the pros already, should it be facilitated? Not just for his own sake, but for that of the cornerbacks tasked with containing this monster. Well, he’ll have to wait his turn for now, citing eligibility rules. Even a unicorn like Smith is boxed in by convention. But when the time comes, there’s evidence to prove he’ll ascend to the NFL rather seamlessly.

Penn State alum and CFB analyst Adam Breneman took to IG and relayed a fascinating trend. It’s common knowledge that only a fraction of college athletes make it pro. However, Breneman has found a bit of a hack that makes it predictable who’s cut out for the leap. The answer to whether a player will turn professional lies in their high school career itself. Those that dip their feet in multiple varsity sports, or have the capability to, have a better shot. Naturally, an athlete of Jeremiah Smith’s ilk ticks all the requisite boxes. 

“The biggest predictor of success in college football is whether or not you played a second score in high school,” remarked Breneman. He backed his chat up with the fact 28 out of the 32 first round draft picks last year played multiple sports. In 2022, only 29 of the 262 players picked didn’t play another sport.“I can tell you guys as a former D1 coach in college… I look for players who played multiple sports.” Breneman said. “Players with diverse athletic backgrounds develop better movement, coordination, and competitiveness.” No prizes for guessing that Jeremiah Smith, the freak athlete he is, indeed played multiple sports. In fact, he’s a state champion outside of football.

Florida-native Smith won the state title in 100m and 400m hurdles. Him being a former track athlete makes that exquisite route running make more sense now. The speed and muscles utilized in both vertices are largely similar. So it helps that he’s got buckets for hands and can catch and make the most wayward throws seem laser-accurate. Jeremiah Smith probably made the right choice. He’s already a national champ, and broke every freshman receiving record at bluebloods Ohio State. There’s not much else to achieve in CFB than bide time. Which, as aforementioned, is why there’s a member of the media advocating for Jeremiah to repeat what LeBron James did. Be so good that you can skip the traditional route into the pros.

Jeremiah Smith, a generational athlete that demands a long-standing rule be changed?

Over the College Football Addiction YouTube channel, host TJ Pittinger brought on Buckeyes fan and insider Zach Smith from “Menace 2 Sports”. Discussing Jeremiah Smith’s rapid ascension, Pittinger asked “You coach this position. Is it physically possible for Jeremiah Smith to get better than he was in 2024?” In reply, Zach Smith said “The scary part is, yeah. He still doesn’t understand really what he’s doing. He’s just so freaky and so talented…they talk about him like he works [hard] like no one ever has, and he seems like a pretty smart kid. So once he starts to learn the intricacies of coverages, of attacking defenders…I think you’re going to see not a sophomore slump, like a sophomore explosion…I don’t even know what his ceiling is!” This discernment led TJ Pittinger into pondering whether the curious case of Jeremiah Smith demands an update to the rulebook.

The rules dictate he has to wait a minimum of 3 years after graduating high school before he can turn pro. That’s still 2 years away. “It’s almost unfair that [Jeremiah Smith] has to play two more years in college football. Not only to him, but to the rest of the Big 10, the rest of College Football,” said Pittinger. It’s not even far-fetched to suggest that if Jeremiah continues to improve he could turn CFB into a 1-team, uncompetitive sport over the next couple years. “I’ve never really thought much about the NFL changing that rule. If there was ever a player to change it for, it would be him. He would be the first wide-receiver taken this year! There’s no question about that!” he proceeded. Zach Smith concurred with that sentiment. As well as the notion Jeremiah Smith has validated a probe into a potential rule-change.

Ever so often, a generational athlete comes along and shifts the paradigm. Over 2 decades ago, LeBron James signalled the end of players jumping into the NBA right from high school. Go beyond that, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar caused the NCAA to impose a rule against dunking in College Basketball which lasted for 10 years. It’ll seem hyperbolic to compare teenager Jeremiah Smith to these GOATs at this juncture. But he’s trending in that direction. Additionally, a receiver’s career isn’t the longest. So if Jeremiah Smith got the opportunity, he could maximise his window by spending the extra couple years in the NFL. It’s not going to happen right away, and Jeremiah will see out his sophomore and junior year in Columbus in all likelihood. However, it’s food for thought for the powers that be. Jeremiah Smith could act as a trail-blazer for those to follow.