The next Marvin Harrison Jr. for Ohio State Football is first to shed the black stripe at spring practice
The next Marvin Harrison Jr. just officially took his first big step in following the former Ohio State Buckeye star today. Jeremiah Smith, the five star number one overall recruit in the entire nation, didn't waste any time at Ohio State's spring practices. He's reportedly stood out as one of the best players on the […]
The next Marvin Harrison Jr. just officially took his first big step in following the former Ohio State Buckeye star today. Jeremiah Smith, the five star number one overall recruit in the entire nation, didn't waste any time at Ohio State's spring practices. He's reportedly stood out as one of the best players on the team already, and as of Thursday afternoon he officially shed the black stripe from his helmet.
For those unfamiliar, the Black Stripe Tradition is a right of passage for new recruits. Freshman recruits must wear a black stripe on their helmets until they can prove that they're willing to step in, work hard, and make plays every day for Ohio State. Once they show they're ready to be a true part of the program they're awarded with the gift of removing the black stripe from their helmets in a celebration and ceremony in front of their fellow Buckeyes.
Jeremiah Smith becomes the first player in 2024 to remove his black stripe today as he "kept his head down, went to work, [is] out here making all kinds of plays" in spring practices.
Marvin Harrison Jr. notably shed his black stripe almost right away back in 2021, before any other true freshman in his class for Ohio State. It did take Harrison Jr. until the Rose Bowl of his true freshman year to truly break out for Ohio State (with three touchdowns that game alone), but he contributed early as a freshman even before that.
Ohio State returns several talented wide receivers like Emeka Egbuka, Carnell Tate, Brandon Inniss, Jayden Ballard, and more, but only Egbuka is a proven every-down veteran. Jeremiah Smith has a fantastic opportunity to plug in right away and make an even greater impact in year one than Marvin Harrison Jr. did as a true freshman.
Smith has been compared to future Hall of Fame wide receiver Julio Jones among other elite talents, but his best comparable might actually be Marvin Harrison Jr. given their similar measurables and play style. He may not be a household name right now, but he will be by Christmas. And if everything goes according to plan, he'll still be destroying defensive backs well into next January too.
