Generational talent—that’s the word that aptly describes the 19-year-old Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver. Even before officially joining the Buckeyes, he had a knack for stirring up all those intense emotions that come with being a college football fan. Ryan Day’s program already boasts a serious edge when it comes to their wide receivers, so much so that they’ve earned the “Wide Receiver U” moniker. Thanks to the impressive list of high-profile players they’ve produced and sent to the draft in recent years. Think Marvin Harrison Jr., Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave—the list goes on. However, Day’s current standout wide receiver seems to soar above them all.

The 2025 season started with a significant setback for the Buckeyes: the loss of their star wide receiver, Emeka Egbuka. He announced on social media his decision to leave Day’s program and enter this year’s draft pool. This news might have initially sent Day into a panic. After all, Egbuka was the school’s all-time leader in catches and receiving yards, racking up 81 catches for 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. But Egbuka knew he was leaving the Buckeyes in capable hands. “I think there’s a standard to uphold when it comes to zone six, the wide receiver room specifically, and you know that standard is never going to change. It’s a standard of excellence.” While he didn’t name names among Smith, Carnell Tate, and Brandon Inniss, we now know who will be stepping up to keep the program running strong. The 19-year-old phenom Jeremiah Smith.

Yes, it’s obvious that Ohio State fans will need some more time to get over the golden times that came with Harrison Jr., Olave, and Wilson. But analyst Adam Breneman pushes Smith and why he is the next GOAT. On the April 12th episode of his podcast, the caption said it all: “Jeremiah Smith didn’t just live up to the hype—he blew it away. He set the NEW standard.” To prove his point, Breneman brought in a competitive ‘Smith vs. the legendary predecessors’ stance. While Harrison Jr., Olave, and Wilson were all legendary freshman receivers, Smith seemingly “outdid” them all.

Breneman noted about Chris Olave, whom he placed at No.4. “He didn’t get many snaps on offense as a freshman, but he still went on to become Ohio State’s All-time touchdown reception leader with 35.” Then came No. 3, Marvin Harrison Jr. The analyst noted, “Leaving as the most decorated receiver in school in history. But as a freshman, he was stuck behind Olave and the next name on this list. Only had 5 catches for 64 yards that year.” When it came to his Rose Bowl feat, he had one more touchdown than Smith. Whereas Garrett Wilson (No.2) made an immediate impact, coming up with 30 catches, 432 yards, and 5 touchdowns. But to Breneman, Smith holds the top spot.

“No.1 obviously is Jeremiah Smith. As an 18, recently turned 19-year-old Jeremiah Smith has an insane 71 catches, 1200 yards and 14 touchdowns.” And how could we forget about his historic Rose Bowl performance? During the high-stakes game, the wide receiver made the best use of the pressure, breaking Cris Carter’s single-game freshman receiving record with 187 yards. Talking about the honors under Smith’s belt, the wide receiver is already pacing himself far ahead. He proudly holds all the freshman season receiving records for both Ohio State and the Big Ten. Furthermore, Smith clinched both the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and the Big Ten Receiver of the Year awards, making him only the second player ever to achieve this double honor. Now, how is the player coping with all the hype?  

How grounded is Jeremiah Smith amidst all the love and attention?

Smith got only one season in Columbus. And in that one season, what are the numbers? 76 receptions for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2024, averaging a robust 17.3 yards per catch. Unbelievable! His standout performance from last season was when he snared seven balls for 187 yards and a couple of scores against Oregon in the Rose Bowl. After this, Smith did not only have fans within Ohio State, as Ducks’ cornerback Brandon Johnson sang high in his praise.

During his appearance on the Sitdown Podcast, Johnson said, “He’s a generational talent, for sure. You don’t see many football players like Jeremiah Smith. You may see someone who has two out of three.” The Ohio State wide receiver’s 76-catch, 1,315-yard, and 15-touchdown season would be a really solid career for most college wide receivers. So, you can have a fair idea of how he often gets mobbed by his followers.

On that note, Brian Hartline joked that he has to stop his autograph sessions early because there simply “isn’t enough time in the day.” But Jeremiah Smith is not allowing all the hype to distract him from his goals. Following their spring game, he addressed the media, sharing how he’s managing all that pressure. “I have to stay level-headed. Just because I had one great year, I can’t fall back on that and think ‘I made it’ or ‘I’m good.’ I have to keep improving, I have to keep getting better.” Because greatness has a name—Jeremiah Smith.