Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes have been on quite the journey. In just two years, they went from celebrating a national championship with Will Howard at the helm to navigating Julian Sayin's first season, which ended with a tough loss to Miami in the College Football Playoff.
Behind the scenes, there was a potential shake-up that could have altered the Buckeyes' roster heading into Spring Ball. Jeremiah Smith, a standout player, was nearly swayed to join his former offensive coordinator, Brian Hartline, at South Florida. Hartline shared the inside scoop on this week's episode of The Triple Option podcast.
Hartline revealed that Smith was tempted to make the move to Tampa, but ultimately, Hartline advised him to stay put at Ohio State. According to Hartline, it was the best decision for Smith, despite the allure of reuniting with his trusted coordinator.
Smith's bond with Hartline extended beyond the field, which made the idea of leaving Ohio State for South Florida a serious consideration. Had Smith made the switch, it would have been a game-changer for the Bulls.
In his 2025 sophomore season with the Buckeyes, Smith was a force to be reckoned with, hauling in 87 receptions for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns over 13 games. He even added a rushing touchdown to his impressive stats, averaging 95.6 receiving yards per game. Smith's prowess makes him one of the top offensive talents in college football.
While Hartline acknowledges what Smith could have brought to South Florida, he’s looking forward to developing new talent in the coming years.