Ohio State star freshman Jeremiah Smith proved himself with historic performance after a rocky start
After two drops from phenom receiver Jeremiah Smith in a very shaky first quarter from the entire Ohio State Buckeyes offense, you could feel the pressure mounting on a team expected to win the championship this year. Ryan Day and his Buckeyes were at no risk of losing to the Akron Zips in Week 1, […]
After two drops from phenom receiver Jeremiah Smith in a very shaky first quarter from the entire Ohio State Buckeyes offense, you could feel the pressure mounting on a team expected to win the championship this year. Ryan Day and his Buckeyes were at no risk of losing to the Akron Zips in Week 1, but it was far from the motivated bunch that had been talking themselves up in recent weeks.
But the second quarter brought the best out of Smith and the Buckeyes. Suddenly, everyone in the Horseshoe saw what the hype was about with the No. 2-ranked receiver in the 2024 class. Smith caught both of Ohio State's first-half touchdowns after logging the drops.
Just after one game, it seems Smith is set to continue the impressive legacy of Ohio State's wide receivers.
In the last three years, the Buckeyes have seen players like Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Marvin Harrison Jr. selected in the first draft round. Additionally, Ohio State features Emeka Egbuka, a preseason All-American and anticipated first-round pick for 2025, who kicked off his senior year with four receptions.
Yet, Smith captured everyone's attention by being the first Ohio State freshman in 26 years to start his career with two touchdown catches, accumulating six receptions for 92 yards in the process.
"Sometimes you look at him, you don't even think he's quite human," Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. "He's built different."
"I know all the hype around me was crazy coming in," Smith said. "I just wanted to come in and be a guy, just work and not just be about hype."
During Ohio State's initial drive, he failed to catch a screen pass, missing the opportunity to advance with open field ahead. Consequently, the Buckeyes were forced to punt following a three-play series.
I'm glad it happened," Smith said, noting he was "relieved" to get the first drop out of the way. "[The team] just told me, 'Calm down, you're good. Move on to the next play.'"
He caught two crucial third-down passes during the subsequent possession, converting them into first downs. Following that, on a critical third down, Smith managed to get open near the front pylon, catching a 16-yard pass for a touchdown, providing the Buckeyes with their first lead of the game. Howard continued to target Smith.
In the second quarter, Howard and Smith connected again, this time on a slant route that resulted in a 9-yard touchdown. This achievement marked Smith as the first Buckeye to score two receiving touchdowns in the first half of an opening game since Ted Ginn Jr. back in 2006, as reported by ESPN Stats & Information.
Kicking off the second half, on Ohio State's second play, Howard threw to Smith who was again in single coverage. Smith outran his defender along the sideline and caught the pass with one hand before sliding down at the Akron 1-yard line.
This 45-yard catch paved the way for Quinshon Judkins’ touchdown on the following play, solidifying the Buckeyes' lead at 24-3. The Buckeyes further extended their advantage by scoring touchdowns on their next two offensive drives.
