He’s the kind of player that makes you rethink what a freshman wide receiver should look like. Jeremiah Smith isn’t just another five-star recruit. The phrase “true freshman” used to carry connotations of inexperience, a work-in-progress talent that needed a year or two of seasoning before making a real impact. Not anymore. And certainly not with this 6’3”, 220-pound route surgeon. At 19, he’s built like an NFL veteran, plays with the confidence of a seasoned pro, and moves like a prototype designed in a lab. Every so often, we get a freshman who looks ahead of schedule—Smith, however, looks like he skipped several steps entirely. The Ohio State Buckeyes knew they were getting a generational talent, but even they might not have expected him to dismantle record books the way he did.

For now, though, Jeremiah Smith is stuck in place—not by his own doing, but by the rules. The NFL’s three-year eligibility requirement means that even as he torches defenses and puts up video-game numbers, he’ll have to wait his turn before Sundays come calling. Ryan Day would’ve been the first to celebrate. We can bet on that. The Florida native, who once dominated high school track en route to a state title in the 100m and 400m hurdles, has translated that explosiveness into one of the smoothest route-running repertoires in college football.

That track background isn’t just a footnote—it’s the foundation of why Smith moves with such efficiency, effortlessly separating from defenders as if they’re running in mud. And now, he’ll have two more years in Columbus to refine his craft before making the leap. If history is any indicator, those two years will be spent stacking up accolades and forcing NFL scouts to adjust their big boards accordingly.

To put his dominance in perspective, former Penn State tight end and CFB analyst Adam Breneman took to the gram to sum up Smith’s brilliance in just 13 words: “Jeremiah Smith didn’t just live up to the hype – he blew it away.” That’s not hyperbole—it’s an acknowledgment of where Jeremiah Smith already stands. Ohio State has been a wide receiver factory, churning out names like Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, and Marvin Harrison Jr. See, Chris didn’t get many snaps on offenses, but he still went on to become Ohio State’s all-time TD reception leader (35). While Wilson played every game, and he made an instant impact, pulling in 30 catches, 4 to 32 yards, and five touchdowns. But Smith? He didn’t just live up to the hype—he exceeded it.

Breneman laid out the receipts: 71 catches, 1,200 yards, 14 touchdowns, and a Rose Bowl performance that shattered Cris Carter’s single-game receiving record with 187 yards. By the time his freshman campaign ended, Smith owned every freshman receiving record at both Ohio State and in Big Ten history.

To put it bluntly, there’s never been a freshman like him in Columbus. Jeremiah Smith eclipsed everyone in his sleep. What makes Smith even more terrifying for opposing defenses is that he’s only scratching the surface. The nuances of his game—the precise footwork, the ability to manipulate defenders with head fakes and leverage—are already polished beyond his years.

Combine that with his elite speed and body control, and he’s the type of receiver who could realistically challenge for the Biletnikoff Award in just his second season.

What’s left to prove? Not much, other than making sure the rest of the nation catches up to what Ohio State fans already know.

Jeremiah Smith Lets His Actions Do the Talking After ‘Generational’ Debate”

The No. 1 freshman in CFB, period, didn’t need a long-winded response to the critics questioning whether he’s truly a “generational talent.” Instead, he let his work speak for itself—literally.

It all started when former South Carolina linebacker Gerald Dixon weighed in on the debate. While acknowledging Smith as a very good receiver, Dixon wasn’t quite ready to put him in the same category as Julio Jones, a name synonymous with dominance. Instead, he offered a different comp: Andre Johnson—an elite receiver in his own right, but not necessarily a “once-in-a-lifetime” talent.

For many players, this kind of talk would spark a fiery social media/X exchange. But not Smith. The Rose Bowl MVP kept it cool and calculated. No words, no debates—just a simple, powerful image. He posted a dramatic black-and-white shot of himself grinding through a workout, pulling a weighted sled backward. No caption. No explanation. Just work.

And the internet took notice—over 200,000 views within minutes. Smith didn’t need to say anything.