The season began with a two-tackle effort by Jeremiah Smith, the top national recruit in the 2024 class and a former five-star prospect. Smith, who is expected to be the best first-year player in the class this year, has a lot of potential for the Buckeyes’ offensive. Smith has already demonstrated that he possesses all the necessary abilities to succeed as a receiver this season after just one game.
Jeremiah Smith, a wide receiver for the Ohio State Buckeyes, hauls in two touchdowns in his debut.
Following their 52-6 victory over the nearby Akron Zips, the Ohio State Buckeyes have started the season with a 1-0 record. Against the Zips, the Buckeyes’ attack scored easily and produced many quality looks for their rookie receiver. Despite his age, the recent addition to the offence has easily slipped into the top receiver position for the Buckeyes.
Recruiting databases rated Jeremiah Smith, the top overall national prospect in the 2024 recruiting class, at 101. There isn’t going to be another wide receiver with Smith’s calibre of talent; he is regarded as the greatest of the previous classes. The 6-foot-3-inch wide receiver is an elusive player who can make plays for himself in addition to being a large, powerful target.
Smith received a lot of passes from the Ohio State Buckeyes, who completed six of them for 92 yards and two touchdowns. In his debut, the rookie wide receiver for the Ohio State Buckeyes averaged 15.3 yards per reception and had a 45-yard long. Smith easily broke through the Zips defence, who were clearly outmatched, and made getting open appear easy.
What Will Smith Bring Going Forward to the Ohio State Football Team?
After having the opportunity to showcase his abilities, Smith’s contributions to this Ohio State Buckeyes squad going forward are very obvious. Despite being only 6 feet 3 inches tall, Smith is a dynamic and elusive receiver who can easily get buried in coverage. Taller players even find it difficult to physically match up with Smith, and defensive backs find it extremely difficult to remain with him.
The receiver caught six passes against the Zips, and it’s possible he could have caught more if quarterback Will Howard had given him more opportunities. Smith not only plays hard football and can get open, but he also has incredible hands. Against the Zips, he made a stunning one-handed reception. The wide receiver can make great plays to secure wayward throws or pluck 50-50 footballs away from opposing defenders.
The more pressing concern with Smith is not what offensively he can contribute, but rather how the team intends to use him in every game. After his two touchdown performances, the mystery surrounding Smith will undoubtedly soon be revealed, and teams will be keeping an eye on the receiver. It will be up to the Ohio State Buckeyes coaching staff to divert as many opponents from Smith in order to create the kind of beneficial one-on-one situations in which Smith thrives.
Between Smith, Howard, and running backs Quinshon Judkins and Treyon Henderson, the Ohio State Buckeyes have a deep offensive line. Given the variety of weapons the Buckeyes possess that may weaken a defence, it will undoubtedly be difficult to stop them going forward. There will be more weapons to be aware of even if opposition defences are able to shut down one player.
