Ohio State's football program has been navigating the tricky waters of player tampering, a growing issue in college sports. With few penalties in place, teams nationwide are making moves to lure talent away from their current rosters. This is a hot topic among coaching circles, and Ohio State is no exception.
The Buckeyes are fiercely protective of their roster, especially when it comes to standout players like Jeremiah Smith. Smith, a key player for Ohio State, has faced his share of tampering attempts over the years. It's a testament to his talent that other programs are eager to bring him on board.
Despite these attempts, Smith has remained loyal to Ohio State. Recently, he hinted at a significant tampering effort by a major program this offseason, though he chose not to name them directly.
In a post-practice media session, Smith suggested that Miami made a strong push to recruit him after their national championship loss to Indiana. Reflecting on the situation, he remarked, "No, I wasn't surprised.
I knew, especially at the end of that game (Cotton Bowl), that a certain program was going to come at me very hard. But I'm not going to say no names.
I think everybody here knows who it was. But I wasn't going nowhere."
Miami fans have long hoped to see Smith in a Hurricanes jersey, but he's confident that Ohio State is where he belongs. As he enters his third year in Columbus, Smith is focused on making it his best yet.
For Ohio State, the goal is clear: another national championship, ideally with a victory over Miami along the way. While revenge might be on their minds, the Buckeyes are also aware of the challenging schedule they must navigate to secure a spot in the College Football Playoff.