Ohio State Buckeyes have their next Marvin Harrison Jr. at wide receiver dominating spring practices
The Ohio State Buckeyes have been on one of the most impressive runs of wide receiver recruitment and development in the history of college football. 12 wide receivers drafted since 2015 with Marvin Harrison Jr. about to join that cohort soon. Four first round prospects in the last three drafts alone. Now the Buckeyes already […]
The Ohio State Buckeyes have been on one of the most impressive runs of wide receiver recruitment and development in the history of college football. 12 wide receivers drafted since 2015 with Marvin Harrison Jr. about to join that cohort soon. Four first round prospects in the last three drafts alone. Now the Buckeyes already have their next Marvin Harrison Jr. on campus for spring practices. And this might sound crazy, but he could be even better.
Jeremiah Smith, a five star wide receiver out of Chaminade-Madonna Prep in Opa Locka, Florida cannot be stopped this spring for Ohio State. He's been making impressive catches left and right, and was the earliest true freshman to have the black stripe removed from his helmet in the history of the Black Stripe Tradition (since 2012). Earlier this week he made an insane one-handed grab in the end zone, and it about broke the internet (as you can see in the post below).
Since then Smith just won't stop. Another video surfaced today. This time it was him destroying an opposing defensive back on a stutter-go for a score despite being given ten full yards of cushion before the snap. Jeremiah Smith is legitimately unfair, to say the least.
Former Ohio State great at wide receiver, DeVier Posey, was present for practice today too. He could not believe what he saw. Posey said in a post following practice that "[Jeremiah Smith] had like 350 yards in practice today no cap."
It is just spring practice. But the legend of Jeremiah Smith has been growing for several years now. He's been the number one wide receiver recruit in the 2024 class for over two years. He was already built like Julio Jones when he was a junior in high school. It should be safe to start expecting truly special play from the five star number one player in the entire recruiting class with elite ball skills, speed, and size.
What should we expect from Jeremiah Smith in year one?
The Ohio State Buckeyes return Emeka Egbuka, who is a projected first round NFL Draft pick for 2025. But outside of Egbuka, the Buckeyes don't have any other returning wide receiver who caught more than 18 receptions last season. They do have immense depth of five star (and top tier four star) pedigree across the board in the form of Carnell Tate, Jayden Ballard, and Brandon Inniss, but there's a clear opportunity for Smith to slide in as the starting X receiver in year one.
Brian Hartline and other offensive coaches aren't trying to hint or reveal the exact depth chart or pecking order just yet, but the evidence from spring practices is quite clear. Smith may already be the best playmaker on the team.
If Smith does indeed earn one of the three starting receiver roles we should expect no worse than 30 receptions from him, and that's if he's third in the pecking order. Given the very real possibility that he's higher than that in the target totem pole, a true freshman breakout with more than 50 catches wouldn't be out of the question. Even with a clearly more run-heavy focus incoming with new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, a true freshman breakout with incredible production is certainly possible, if not quite likely at this point.
Expect great things from Smith. But don't expect them for more than three years in Columbus. He's a lock for first round NFL Draft capital in 2027 already.
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And check out some 2023 Jeremiah Smith highlights in the video below to see the ridiculous upside he should immediately bring to the Buckeyes offense.
