Eric Boggs
Jeremiah Smith wasted no time making his mark at Ohio State, quickly shedding his black stripe and cementing himself as the fastest player in Buckeyes history to earn his official spot on the team. Just four practices into his collegiate career, the freshman five-star wide receiver displayed an extraordinary level of talent and dedication that caught the attention of both coaches and teammates alike.
“I love the way he lives. I love the way he approaches things. I love the way he makes mistakes and then corrects mistakes. It’s very veteran-like. There is so much ball that he has to learn that he literally does things that are good and I am like, ‘Do you know why that worked?’ ‘Coach, I have no freaking idea.’ So I have to teach him why it worked and then the consistency of why it worked just goes through the roof. So I am very excited and proud of the conversations we are currently having.”
Brian Hartline
Smith, who held the coveted title of the overall number one ranked recruit in the country in the 2024 class according to 247Sports, arrived on campus resembling a seasoned college athlete. Standing at an imposing 6-foot-3 and weighing in at 215 pounds, Smith’s physique suggests he has already undergone rigorous training akin to a seasoned collegiate athlete. Observers wouldn’t be surprised if Smith has already packed on an additional 10 to 15 pounds of muscle to his already tall frame.
When it comes to hyping up freshmen, the sports media community is often guilty of overinflating expectations. However, the buzz surrounding Smith feels genuine, and the way Hartline and the rest of the Ohio State coaching staff are grooming him for success speaks volumes. With Smith’s rapid progression, it’s evident that the JJ Smith hype-train has officially left the station. If you’re not on board yet, you might want to jump on before it’s too late.
