Could Jeremiah Smith break the record for most Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors?
The first time feels so good, but I have a feeling Jeremiah Smith will continue to add honors to his resume throughout the next few years. The Ohio State phenom was awarded the Big Ten Freshman of the Week, a first for a Buckeye player within the initial five weeks of this year to clinch one […]
The first time feels so good, but I have a feeling Jeremiah Smith will continue to add honors to his resume throughout the next few years. The Ohio State phenom was awarded the Big Ten Freshman of the Week, a first for a Buckeye player within the initial five weeks of this year to clinch one of the conference's individual accolades.
This recognition also marks the first for Smith in response to his game performance. The most recent Ohio State player before him to earn the title of Big Ten Freshman of the Week was running back Dallan Hayden in November 2022.
With Smith proving to be so good already, we're wondering whether he could challenge Jonathan Taylor's record of eight Big Ten Freshman of the Week awards.
Although Smith wasn't the leading receiver for the Buckeyes in receptions or receiving yards—a distinction held by senior Emeka Egbuka—he ended the game with five catches on seven targets for 83 yards and a touchdown. Smith converted his very first career rushing attempt into a touchdown, sprinting 19 yards into the end zone.
Smith's contributions were pivotal for Ohio State from the outset, securing a 13-yard catch on a second-and-six during the Buckeyes' first offensive drive and making a six-yard catch on a third-and-five to conclude the opening quarter.
He began and concluded Ohio State's second sustained drive of the second quarter with a 20-yard catch that kick-started the offense following a defensive lapse that allowed the game's only touchdown, rounding off the drive with a 19-yard touchdown run.
In the last drive before the half, Smith executed two spectacular plays. His first was a 27-yard catch on first down, snagged single-handedly between two defenders, propelling the Buckeyes into the red zone.
Then, three plays later, he made another one-handed catch in the end zone to assist backup quarterback Devin Brown—who stepped in after Will Howard had to exit the game temporarily—extending Ohio State's lead to 24-7 at halftime.
As a freshman, the top player from the 2024 recruiting class ranks second in the Big Ten for average receiving yards per game (91), third in touchdown catches (5), and fifth in total receiving yards (364). After four games, Smith ranks fourth in all-time receiving yards and fifth in receptions among Buckeye freshmen receivers.
It's just a guess, but with showdowns against Iowa, Oregon, Nebraska, and Penn State coming, Smith will continue to have opportunities to star on a grand stage. Could he rip off a streak of Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors?
Maybe. The Buckeyes have only eight regular season games remaining, so he'd have to win them all before the conference title game and playoffs count.
