Jeremiah Smith keeps stacking up the kind of numbers and praise that usually get reserved for rare, can’t-miss stars. Now ESPN is taking that conversation a step further, treating the Ohio State wideout like a once-in-a-lifetime prospect.
Smith has been the Buckeyes’ top weapon ever since he committed to the program, and the results have backed that up at every turn. He was the best player on Ohio State’s 2024 national championship team, and the source of the offense again this season even after his starting quarterback went down. He remains the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, and he is still projected as a first-round pick in April.
ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid went even bigger in his evaluation, suggesting Smith could be the first receiver taken No. 1 overall since Keyshawn Johnson. Reid wrote:
"Due to Smith’s talent and the current lack of a consensus QB1 in this draft, he has a strong argument to top all of them and be the first receiver selected with the No. 1 pick since the New York Jets took Keyshawn Johnson to begin the draft in 1996,"
The case for that kind of draft buzz starts with how clean Smith’s production has been. He has only six drops in three years, and teams at the top of the board might even try to trade up to get him. If the season ended today, the Chargers would own the No. 1 pick, and with Justin Herbert already in place, they would clearly be in position to take Smith.
Ohio State has leaned hard on him all season, and the stat line shows it. Smith has 52 catches for 984 yards and 12 touchdowns so far this year. Reaching 20 touchdowns is still on the table, though it would require the backup quarterback to play at a high level with Sayin on the bench.
The problem for Ohio State is that the rest of the passing game has not kept pace. The next-highest touchdown total from a skill player is six, belonging to Ja’Kobi Jackson, and Jackson is essentially finished for the rest of the regular season. That leaves Smith carrying even more of the load.
A second receiver still has not emerged to take pressure off him, which is why Arthur Smith has to keep building the offense around ways to spring Jeremiah Smith open for Luke Fahey, who is expected to start Saturday night. A strong run game would help, but Ohio State cannot count on that right now. The Buckeyes rank 75th in the country in rushing offense, and if the backs keep underperforming, the ball has to keep finding Smith as often as possible.
Through three seasons in Columbus, Smith has already put together a run that puts him in a special class at Ohio State. The source describes him as the greatest receiver in program history and possibly the best Buckeye ever. If he goes on to win the Heisman and add another national title, his number could eventually be retired.
In Other News...
Ohio States Bigger Problem In Los Angeles Was Never The Freshman QB
Ohio States trip to Los Angeles quickly became less about a true freshman quarterback making his first real imprint and more about a team that kept tripping over its own mistakes. Luke Fahey did enough to keep the offense moving in the first half, completing 8 of 15 passes for 86 yards, and the coaching staff clearly trusted him to handle the job despite his inexperience. But by halftime, USC had built a 20-6 lead, and the bigger issues were showing up everywhere else.
Missed tackles, penalties, special teams problems and defensive miscommunications all helped put Ohio State in a hole before the game could settle in. Fahey was not the reason the Buckeyes were chasing the scoreboard, and the way the first half unfolded made that plain. The more pressing concern for Ohio State was how many different areas were breaking down at once, leaving the freshman quarterback to absorb blame he never really owned. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Suddenly Has A Bigger Problem Than One Road Loss
A road loss in Los Angeles already had Ohio State dealing with the usual fallout from a stumble away from home, but the bigger issue was how USC controlled the game from start to finish. The Trojans held the No. 2 Buckeyes to one touchdown, and Ohio State never found much rhythm with backup quarterback Luke Fahey under constant pressure from a USC defense that stacked up tackles for loss and sacks.
The Buckeyes also had no answer for the explosive play that tilted the night, with Mark Bowman ripping off a 70-yard catch-and-run that helped put USC in position to finish the job. It was a statement win for Lincoln Riley, his first top-five victory with the Trojans, and for Ohio State it leaves a lot more to sort through than just the final score. [Read more 🡒]
Lincoln Riley Added More Fuel To Ohio States Ugly Night
USCs 30-18 win over Ohio State was already the kind of result that left a mark, but Lincoln Riley added another layer to the night in the aftermath. In his postgame press conference, the Trojans coach leaned into the idea that the satisfaction came from inside the building, not from outside approval, a fitting tone after a victory that sent Ohio State back to Columbus with plenty to sort through.
The scene around the tunnel at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was less polished. Riley and his family ran into a bottleneck on the way out, and the moment escalated into a verbal exchange in which Riley reportedly directed profanity at Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork and other staff members. Former Buckeye Maurice Clarett stepped in to try to calm things down, a reminder that even after the final whistle, the emotions from a game like this can linger well beyond the field. [Read more 🡒]