Key players for Ohio State continue to stoke the fire of hype around freshman WR Jeremiah Smith
Ohio State’s offense in 2024 is going to have some of the same faces making plays as well as some new players. One player who is set to have a significant role is wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who has the most hype around him as a freshman that you will ever really see. As the […]
Ohio State’s offense in 2024 is going to have some of the same faces making plays as well as some new players.
One player who is set to have a significant role is wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who has the most hype around him as a freshman that you will ever really see. As the No. 1 player in the 2024 recruiting class, that is not a total surprise.
At Big Ten Media Day, several of Smith’s upper-class teammates had great things to say about him and who he is.
“To be honest, he's like that,” senior cornerback Denzel Burke said. “Like, like that, like that. So he's next up, and I'm really excited for just seeing these next couple of years and what he's going to bring to the table for our team this year, too.”
Smith doesn’t have to come in and be the guy for the Buckeyes. The 6-foot-3 freshman has Emeka Egbuka in the same room, as well as sophomores Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss who are going to play a heavy role.
“I think that's what's most impressive about him because he's the prototypical wide receiver that you would want, but he's mature beyond his years and you don't really have to get on him too much,” explained Egbuka. “He's going to work. He's going to keep himself humble. And that's what I love about him.”
In the spring game back in April, Ryan Day’s decision to be careful with Smith as a freshman and limit his usage was a sign of what is to come. Starting the season, it would not be a surprise if Smith is out there on the first offensive snap. His game is college-ready.
“That kid is just special,” senior defensive end Jack Sawyer said. “That's the only word I can use to describe him. Having been in his shoes – meaning being a five-star recruit and having a lot of hype surrounding him coming in – I was like, man, I just wanna see him practice a couple of times. Then, I saw him for the first time [in the] the first practice, I was like, ‘Holy shit, this kid's good.’”
Sure, there will be some growing moments for such a young player about to take serious snaps for a National Championship level team. But his coaches know that he is ready and his teammates do too and it is telling.
Ohio State takes unfortunate season-ending injury hit to important offensive position before camp even begins
The Buckeyes will be a bit thinner at the position.
