Jeremiah Smith Is Healthy, Hungry, and Ready to Wreak Havoc in the College Football Playoff
When Jeremiah Smith takes the field at AT&T Stadium for Ohio State’s College Football Playoff showdown against Miami, he’ll bring more than just elite talent to the table. He’s bringing a clean bill of health-and a whole lot of fire.
For the first time in weeks, the Buckeyes’ star wideout is fully healthy. Smith confirmed during media availability that the quad injury that limited him late in the season is officially behind him. It was an ailment that had been whispered about but never publicly acknowledged-until now.
And that’s only half the story.
Because Smith isn’t just healthy. He’s motivated.
Deeply. The kind of motivation that comes from a tough conference title loss, a missed shot at the Biletnikoff Award, and a playoff matchup against his hometown team-one loaded with players he knows well.
On the Buckeye Talk podcast, the conversation zeroed in on a fascinating question: What’s more dangerous-Smith at full strength, or Smith with something to prove?
“I don’t know, Gillis, what’s scarier, the fact that Jeremiah Smith is healthy or the fact that he’s angry?” asked Stephen Means, capturing the tension perfectly.
Let’s be clear: Even while dealing with that quad issue, Smith still put up numbers that most receivers would dream about. In the Big Ten Championship game, he hauled in eight catches for 144 yards. That’s a big-time performance for a player who wasn’t even at 100%.
Now? He says he’s there.
Fully healed. No restrictions.
And that should have Miami’s secondary on high alert.
Means made the case that Smith’s emotional edge might be the true X-factor. “The anger is man-made,” he said.
“So it’s just like, ‘Oh, just wait till I get healthy.’” The implication?
Smith’s been stewing. Waiting.
And now that his body has caught up with his mindset, the results could be explosive.
There’s a history here, too. Smith has shown time and again that he responds to setbacks with statement games. After Ohio State’s losses last season, he bounced back in a big way-posting three catches for 70 yards and a score against Nebraska, then torching Tennessee for six grabs, 103 yards, and two touchdowns.
Still, not everyone agrees that the emotional side is the biggest concern for Miami. Stefan Krajisnik offered a counterpoint: maybe it’s the healthy version of Smith that’s the real problem.
“Originally you see the matchup and you’re like, ‘Oh, they’re about to face a motivated JJ,’” Krajisnik said. “But what if they just have to face a healthy JJ? Like maybe the motivation part doesn’t really matter that much.”
That’s a fair take. Because let’s not forget-Smith’s baseline level is already elite.
He’s a matchup nightmare on the outside, with size, speed, and route-running polish that’s rare even among top-tier college receivers. If he’s operating at full capacity physically, that alone could tilt the field.
But here’s the thing: Miami isn’t getting just one version of Jeremiah Smith. They’re getting both. A fully healthy receiver with something to prove-and the opportunity to do it on the biggest stage of his career so far.
This is a player who once said he considers himself open even when he’s blanketed by an entire defense. That kind of confidence, paired with physical readiness and emotional fuel, is a dangerous combination. And now, with all three in alignment, Smith looks poised to make a serious impact.
Ohio State fans have seen this movie before. When Smith plays angry, big things tend to happen.
Now that he’s healthy too? The Hurricanes better be ready-because the storm is coming.