Despite walking onto the Ohio State campus as the best recruit from the 2024 class, it wasn't always a forgone conclusion that Jeremiah Smith would be leading the Buckeyes as the first month of games ended. Smith, joining a loaded offense with College Football Playoff aspirations, could've been eased into Ryan Day's and Chip Kelly's explosive attack.
He didn't expect to lead the unit in receptions and yards, let alone be the WR1.
“Not at all,” Smith said Wednesday after practice. “This is Ohio State. [With] all the receivers that been here and that was here before I got here, I did not have the expectation of having the role that I have right now.
In the first three games, Smith has emerged as the leading receiver for the Buckeyes, amassing 281 receiving yards. He's also secured four receiving touchdowns, a feat no other player on the Ohio State team has achieved this season.
According to Pro Football Focus , he stands out as the only Buckeyes receiver to make multiple contested catches this year. Smith shares the top spot for total receptions on the team, with 14, alongside senior wideout Emeka Egbuka.
Smith's statistics are outstanding for any wide receiver, but they are particularly extraordinary for a true freshman, especially within the Ohio State program.
Given the Buckeyes' history of sending receivers to the NFL, it's usually challenging for even highly touted new recruits to get significant playtime early on.
Yet, Smith has already outpaced the freshman-year receiving yards of notable players like Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Carnell Tate. Furthermore, he's on track to surpass the freshman-year records set by Garrett Wilson in 2019.
When questioned on Wednesday about his remarkable first-year performance, Smith was asked if he found the experience to be surreal.
“Oh yes, for sure,” he said before pivoting. “I mean, but job not finished. I still got stuff to do...I just give all the thanks to God just to be able to be in this position right now.”
This summer marked a historic moment for Smith, as he became the first-ever true freshman in the program's history to be awarded the title of "Iron Buckeye."
As explained by players and coaches from the Buckeyes during the preseason, this designation is given to those who demonstrate "unwavering commitment, dedication, determination, discipline, resilience, and leadership" throughout the winter and summer training sessions.
Among the 10 individuals selected this year by strength and conditioning coach Mickey Marotti was Smith, who hails from Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory in Hollywood, Florida, and grew up in Miami Gardens.
Despite this achievement, Smith had not anticipated playing in 104 offensive snaps across his initial three games.
“Not that much,” Smith said, when asked directly how much he anticipated playing this year. “You got Carnell Tate, you got Emeka Egbuka that came back. You got Brandon Inniss that had been here, B-Rod (Bryson Rodgers), Jayden Ballard, all them guys."
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