Jeremiah Smith didn’t need long to put a huge spotlight on Legend Bey.
Speaking with Chase Brown of 11 Warriors on Wednesday, Smith said he believes the Ohio State freshman has the kind of talent that can carry him all the way to Heisman Trophy territory. Smith’s prediction was simple and fearless: Legend Bey will either be a Heisman Trophy finalist or win the award before his Ohio State career is over.
Bey has been turning heads in preseason practice, and that buzz is only growing after Smith’s comments. For a player like Smith to speak that strongly about another freshman says plenty on its own.
In just two seasons of college football, Smith has already been viewed as one of the most talented players in the Country, if not the most talented. So when he points to someone else and sees that level of ceiling, people notice.
Bey’s path to Columbus has already been a strange one. He originally committed to Tennessee and signed there, and for a stretch it looked like Ohio State might have missed on one of the most intriguing players in the class.
Then came the late drama on National Signing Day, with Ohio State pulling off a flip before Bey ultimately signed with Tennessee. After a few days of rumors, Josh Heupel and Tennessee released Bey from his Letter of Intent, and he ended up at Ohio State.
That turn of events looks like a major win for Ryan Day.
Coming out of High School, Bey was ranked 131st in the Country, third among athletes in the class, and 18th in Texas. He played quarterback in High School, which left real questions about where he would fit in college. Ohio State running backs coach Carlos Locklyn recruited him, but after Brian Hartline’s departure, Bey’s flip to Tennessee had people wondering whether receiver was the plan.
Instead, Bey has settled in at running back, though that makes a Heisman run tougher, at least this season with Bo Jackson still in the fold.
Even so, the bigger picture around Ohio State’s freshman class keeps getting stronger. Hartline may be gone, but his final haul could end up being one of the best groups he ever assembled.
Brock Boyd showed up and immediately looked like a freshman who was being undersold, one who could help right away. Add in 5-stars Jerquaden Guilford and Chris Henry Jr., and the Buckeyes’ offensive talent pool looks loaded.
Chris Henry Jr. in particular has drawn eye-popping praise, with Smith saying he looks like an alien.
And now Bey is the latest name getting pushed into the spotlight.
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