Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith somehow managed to surpass even the sky-high expectations set for him as a freshman.
Given the immense hype surrounding his arrival in Columbus—where some called him the best receiver prospect in Buckeyes history and others the greatest wideout recruit ever—that’s no small feat.
Smith delivered in a big way, racking up 76 catches for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns while leading Ohio State to its first national championship in a decade.
In the title game against Notre Dame, he made five grabs for 88 yards and a touchdown, including a clutch 56-yard reception on a critical third-and-11 in the fourth quarter to set up the game-sealing field goal.
That moment clearly resonated with Bleacher Report’s Brad Shepard, who has labeled Smith as one of the most clutch players in college football heading into 2025.
“Time and time again, Smith made plays. He’s the definition of clutch,” Shepard wrote.
Smith dominated throughout Ohio State’s College Football Playoff run, peaking with a monster Rose Bowl performance against Oregon—hauling in seven receptions for 187 yards and two touchdowns. He found the end zone five times across the CFP.
And here’s the scary part: Smith isn’t even draft-eligible until 2027.
The rest of the Big Ten is officially on notice.
