The Ohio State Buckeyes may have found their next star wide receiver in Jeremiah Smith.
This year’s No. 1 overall recruit will begin his first season with Ryan Day’s squad. He made a strong first impression in Ohio State’s opening spring practice.
WBNS-TV’s Adam King posted a video of Smith reaching down to secure a low pass from transfer quarterback Will Howard before it hit the ground. Here’s a look at the play:
It’s just the first day of spring but here is Will Howard to Jerimiah Smith.
Smith already making catches that turn heads: pic.twitter.com/ARhSrUYTP0
— Adam King (@AdamKing10TV) March 5, 2024
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Smith, the cousin of Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith, scored 21 total touchdowns for Florida’s Chaminade-Madonna Prep last season. The high school won its third straight state title behind the MaxPreps National Player of the Year finalist.
Florida, Miami, and Florida State all tried to keep the Florida native home, but Smith signed his national letter of intent with Ohio State in December. He’ll go to a school that has recently churned out first-round NFL wide receivers Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Marvin Harrison Jr. in April.
Andrew Ivins, the director of scouting for 247Sports, compared the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Smith to Julio Jones. Buckeyes quarterback Devin Brown also praised his new teammate.
“He’s a freak. He’s gonna be next level,” Brown said of Smith on Monday (h/t Buckeyes Now). ‘I mean, that guy handles things the right way and does everything right in the weight room. I was throwing with him yesterday and every time I throw to him it’s like, ‘Geez, this kid’s a stud. He’s gonna be a freak.'”
Smith is setting expectations high for his freshman campaign at Columbus.