The Ohio State freshman wide receiver, who was the consensus No. 1 player in the 2024 recruiting class, doesn\u2019t do much to seek attention. He rarely engages in social media debates, doesn\u2019t give flashy interviews, and avoids brash declarations. But when you\u2019re 6-foot-3, 215 pounds with Olympic-level athleticism, flawless hands, and elite route running \u2014 and you\u2019re wearing scarlet and gray \u2014 the spotlight doesn\u2019t ask permission. It just shows up.<\/p>\n
Since arriving in Columbus, Smith has tried to immerse himself in football and fade into the program. But the reality of college football, especially at a powerhouse like Ohio State, means that every step he takes, every ball he catches, and every play he makes in practice is observed, analyzed, and elevated to the national conversation. He\u2019s been compared to Marvin Harrison Jr., a Biletnikoff Award winner and top-5 NFL Draft pick. Fair or not, Smith now walks into a room with those expectations already attached.<\/p>\n
And yet, Smith remains grounded. Those inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center say the freshman is all business \u2014 first to meetings, last to leave the weight room. He doesn\u2019t carry himself like a player who was hailed as a generational talent out of Chaminade-Madonna in Florida. He acts like a walk-on trying to earn a roster spot. It\u2019s that mentality that has quickly endeared him to teammates and coaches alike.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a worker,\u201d said Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. \u201cSome kids get to this level with all the stars and rankings and they expect things to be handed to them. Not Jeremiah. He puts his head down and works. He\u2019s all football, all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kelly, who was hired to bring a fresh, pro-style approach to the Buckeyes’ offense, knows what elite receivers look like. He coached the likes of DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, and Josh Huff during his college stops and spent years evaluating NFL prospects. And in Smith, he sees a rare combination of polish and potential.<\/p>\n
But Kelly also understands that with great talent comes great responsibility \u2014 not just for Smith, but for the program. That\u2019s why Ohio State is being strategic in how it manages the young star. Smith may be a freshman, but he\u2019s already drawing attention from national media outlets, NFL scouts, and endorsement companies. The Buckeyes’ staff is determined to shield him from the external noise and let his development happen within the program’s ecosystem.<\/p>\n
Head coach Ryan Day has made it clear that while Smith is immensely talented, he won\u2019t be fast-tracked just to satisfy hype. He\u2019ll have to earn his reps like everyone else. That\u2019s not a punishment \u2014 it\u2019s protection.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to take care of our guys,\u201d Day said. \u201cThere\u2019s no doubt Jeremiah has the ability to be special, but we also have a room full of really good players. He\u2019s going to compete. That\u2019s what we do here. But more importantly, we want to make sure he has a strong foundation, mentally and physically. You don\u2019t just throw a kid into the fire because of recruiting rankings. That\u2019s not fair to him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Indeed, Ohio State’s wide receiver room is once again loaded. Veteran Emeka Egbuka may be off to the NFL, but names like Carnell Tate, Brandon Inniss, Kojo Antwi, and Bryson Rodgers remain. Smith is already drawing first-team reps in spring practices, but the staff is watching closely to avoid overloading the freshman with pressure.<\/p>\n
His teammates are helping in that regard. Tate, a sophomore who made waves last season as a freshman contributor, has taken Smith under his wing. The two bonded during recruiting events and have leaned on each other during the transition to college football.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe talk every day,\u201d Tate said. \u201cI just tell him, block out the noise. People are gonna talk whether you\u2019re ballin\u2019 or not. Just stay focused. He\u2019s got everything you need to be great, but it\u2019s about consistency. That\u2019s what I\u2019ve learned. And he gets it.\u201d<\/p>\n
That maturity is why many around the program believe Smith will thrive, despite the pressure. He doesn\u2019t feed off attention \u2014 in fact, he shies away from it \u2014 but he understands the business. NIL deals are part of the game now, and Smith has been courted by companies since before he stepped on campus. So far, he\u2019s declined to make splashy announcements or promote brands. His focus has been on football, and his inner circle is helping keep it that way.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about setting up the right structure,\u201d one source close to Smith\u2019s family said. \u201cJeremiah isn\u2019t someone who wants to be on billboards. He just wants to play ball and take care of his people. We\u2019ve had the conversations about handling the business side, but the priority right now is development. When the time is right, those things will come.\u201d<\/p>\n
That approach is music to the ears of Ohio State\u2019s staff, who have watched other highly touted recruits struggle under the weight of early fame. The Buckeyes have learned from experience \u2014 both good and bad \u2014 about how to handle elite freshmen. Smith\u2019s situation is being treated with deliberate care.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s also a recognition that despite his aversion to the spotlight, Smith\u2019s play may leave no choice but to embrace it eventually. Reports out of early practices indicate he\u2019s already making spectacular plays against veteran defensive backs. His release off the line is advanced, his body control is elite, and his understanding of coverages is rare for a player his age.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can tell he\u2019s been coached the right way,\u201d said Brian Hartline, Ohio State\u2019s wide receivers coach. \u201cHe\u2019s not just out there trying to win with athleticism. He\u2019s thinking through the game. That\u2019s what makes him dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hartline\u2019s endorsement carries weight. As one of the most respected developers of wide receiver talent in the country, Hartline has overseen the rise of NFL stars like Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Harrison Jr. He sees in Smith not just another elite prospect, but one who has the tools to become a complete player \u2014 and perhaps the next Buckeye legend.<\/p>\n
Still, Ohio State is being patient. There\u2019s no rush to declare Smith the next superstar, even if fans and media are already doing it. The staff\u2019s priority is to cultivate a culture of accountability and competition, where Smith\u2019s development is organic and sustainable. That means letting him earn his moments and celebrating steady progress instead of viral highlights.<\/p>\n
It also means shielding him when necessary. The Buckeyes have limited his media exposure, allowing Smith to focus on football rather than off-field obligations. When the time comes, he\u2019ll speak. But for now, the program is speaking for him \u2014 by giving him room to grow.<\/p>\n
That protection might be the key to unlocking his greatness. In an era where young athletes can be consumed by hype before they ever play a down, Ohio State is betting on structure, discipline, and humility to shape Jeremiah Smith\u2019s path.<\/p>\n
He doesn\u2019t need the limelight to be elite. He just needs a clean pocket, a good route, and a quarterback who trusts him. The rest will take care of itself \u2014 whether Smith wants the attention or not.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Texas Longhorns vs. Ohio State Buckeyes Way-Too-Early Preview: Players to Watch The Ohio State freshman wide receiver, who was the consensus No. 1 player in the 2024 recruiting class, doesn\u2019t … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":21545,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[476],"class_list":["post-21540","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-football","tag-ohio-state"],"yoast_head":"\n