Jim Knowles’ impression of Ohio State freshman Jeremiah Smith signals some bad news for the rest of the Big Ten

Every once in a while, a special freshman comes along the way at Ohio State and they end up having a big impact. It does not happen often at all, but 2024 is shaping up to be a season where just that does happen.

Ohio State went out and got the No. 1 player in the 2024 recruiting class and that was no other than wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. Smith has been impressive since he stepped on campus and is set to have a role for the Buckeyes from the very first game against Akron this fall.

In practice, no one gets a better look at what it is like to go up against Smith than defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. What Knowles had to say will only build the hype more around the freshman wide receiver.

“He’s shown right away that he can handle anything you throw at him,” Knowles said recently. “If you put him in a one-on-one situation, even against our best, you’re kind of holding your breath. I know it makes our guys better. Iron sharpens iron. Everything I’ve seen from him is just — not only great talent — but great maturity.”

Ohio State’s best defensive back is a player like Denzel Burke, who could end up being a first-round pick next spring in the NFL Draft. It is not often that freshmen come around and have the ability to make an immediate impact, but that is the track that Smith is on with the Buckeyes.

In his freshman season, Smith won’t have to put up crazy numbers. The wide receiver room is a talented one for the Buckeyes with athletes like Emeka Egbuka, Carnell Tate, and Brandon Inniss set to have a role. Smith could fit anywhere in that group, that part will play out.

The hype continues to grow around Smith and it won’t be that much longer until we get a live look at the 6-foot-3 freshman. The Buckeyes host Akron at the end of the month for their first game.

Related: Jeremiah Smith is reportedly so fast that Ohio State Buckeyes coaches "don't know what to do with him"