“That kid is just special, man. That’s the only word I can use to describe him.”— that’s exactly what the senior DE Jack Sawyer said about freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. A former five-star recruit, Smith made headlines when he was ranked the No. 1 player in the country for the 2024 recruiting class, regardless of position. This elite receiver from Miami Gardens, Florida, was recognized as the Player of the Year in Florida by MaxPreps, a division of CBS Sports. Here’s why the star WR, who joined the Buckeyes in January, is a player to lookout for this fall.

The Wonder Boy Smith

Rumors swirled on the signing day in January that the Miami Hurricanes made a late push to sign the star wide receiver from his hometown. But when coach Ryan Day finally got the official confirmation of Jeremiah Smith committing to the Buckeyes in January, the Buckeyes coach Day literally buckled his knees and sighed in relief. Yes, such a talent Smith is! Often called a once-in-a-generation talent, this 6-foot-3, 200-pound receiver from Chaminade-Madonna Prep in Opa Locka, Florida is the first wide receiver ever to snag the top spot in the Top247 rankings since 247Sports started them in 2010. The receiver not only led his team to a perfect 14-0 record along with a third consecutive state title, he also racked up staggering numbers while doing so: 88 receptions for 1,376 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2023. Jeremiah Smith, who was also a Maxwell Award High School Player of the Year awardee, is also the cousin of NFL quarterback Geno Smith. 

Smith became the first freshman in the Ohio State football program’s history to strip the black stripe from his helmet just after four practices during the spring drill. A former five-star prospect, the Buckeyes veteran Sawyer is no more skeptical about the hype around this star receiver. “Having been in his shoes, meaning being a five-star recruit and having a lot of hype around him coming in, I was like, ‘Man, I just want to see him practice a couple of times.’ I don’t want him to feel like if he doesn’t play this year or if he doesn’t live up to the hype his freshman year then, you know, but then I saw him for the first time at the first practice. I was like, ‘holy sh-t, this kid’s good”. Even coach Day couldn’t help but smile when the interviewers asked him about his star player. “I’m going to be careful what I say,” Day said of the prodigy, “but he’s certainly a pleasure to watch, and we’re all very excited about his future.”

Jeremiah Smith’s future at Ohio State

While there’s no doubt that OSU has nurtured several receiver talents like Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Marvin Harrison Jr., none started as a freshman. In what can be a notable milestone for the Buckeyes, Smith’s career at Ohio stands as a testament to the program’s prowess in nurturing prodigious talent. 

Meanwhile, Smith has also managed to cash on his name and fame as a widely sought-after player. Recently, the prized recruit signed a lucrative NIL deal of $752,000 with Battle Sports.