Ohio State star Jeremiah Smith admitted another Buckeye is reminding him of himself in Columbus
Buckeyes star Jeremiah Smith opened up about freshman WR Brock Boyd and it sounds promising for what’s to come for Ohio State.
The Ohio State Buckeyes were in Chicago this week for Big Ten Media Days, and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith delivered a notable endorsement of freshman wideout Brock Boyd. Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, quarterback Julian Sayin, Smith, and safety Jaylen McClain all represented the Buckeyes on Wednesday. Plenty of conversation came up about the 2026 roster, and some of it centered on a couple of freshmen who could play a role for Ohio State this fall.
Boyd, not Henry, grabbed the most spring buzz
Coming into the spring, most of the talk surrounded former five-star recruit Chris Henry Jr. and what he could become at Ohio State. Nobody is comparing Henry to Smith and the historic freshman season he put together in 2024 when he went over 1,300 receiving yards. But Ohio State fans know what a five-star big-play threat can potentially be as a true freshman. Still, it wasn’t Henry who caught the most buzz during spring ball. It was Boyd, a former three-star recruit out of Texas who looks like he was simply undervalued on the recruiting circuit in terms of ranking.
Boyd’s name came up in conversation with Smith at media day on Wednesday. Smith opened up on how Boyd reminds him of himself when he first arrived in Columbus.
“He was out there just making plays, diving for the ball, two defenders on him, doing a lot of crazy stuff. It reminded me of myself when I first got here in the spring, just out there making plays and having fun. He’s going to play a lot this year,” Smith said.
Smith’s endorsement carries weight heading into fall camp
The most important part of that quote is the last line. If Smith is saying Boyd is going to play a lot this year, that’s probably going to be the case. Sometimes players will reveal a bit more than coaches will, and it’s where you get your best assessment of who’s going to play and who’s not at this time of year when coaches aren’t trying to tip their hand much.
There was plenty of good chatter around Boyd’s name during the spring. He came in right away, worked hard, and made plays for Ohio State by getting open as a 6-foot-1, 185-pound wideout who already has an ability to separate at the college level.
To hear Smith make a comment like this, it’s quite promising for what Ohio State may have in the Texas product. The early returns and Smith’s own words suggest the Buckeyes found a player who could contribute right away.