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How Jeremiah Smith is changing college football
Jeremiah Smith is transforming college football. Discover how this Ohio State University wide receiver is redefining the game — and get to know him years ahead of his likely NFL future.
College football star Jeremiah Smith has garnered exceptional attention for a freshman — some of it before he even played his first college football game. When asked about all the early hype, the Ohio State wide receiver kept it humble like so many greats before him.
“I work very hard at everything I do,” Smith shared with us. “It’s a long season, so I have to make sure my body is right... my focus has been to get bigger, stronger and faster.”
Jeremiah Smith
© Nick Brown
He’s absolutely succeeding at that — and in the process, he’s redefining what it means to be a wide receiver and changing college football. That unyielding commitment to his craft is precisely what powers his generational talent. Keep reading to learn all about Jeremiah Smith and his stellar achievements to date.
01
Who is Jeremiah Smith?
Jeremiah Smith is a game-changing athlete who’s rapidly emerging as the college football star to watch. Despite making waves with college football enthusiasts, he’s said to be quiet and humble, yet determined to win. In his 2024 high school scouting report, he was compared to Julio Jones, wide receiver for the NFL’s Tennessee Titans.
Jeremiah Smith quick facts
- How old is Jeremiah Smith? 19 (born November 29, 2005)
- How tall is Jeremiah Smith? 6’3”
- How much does Jeremiah Smith weigh? 215 lbs
- What position does Jeremiah Smith play? Wide receiver
- Jeremiah Smith hometown: Miami Gardens, Florida
- Jeremiah Smith 40 time: Reported 4.35 seconds
02
Jeremiah Smith's NIL deals
Jeremiah Smith's success extends far beyond the football field
© Maggie Zerbe / Red Bull Content Pool
Beyond his game-changing play on Saturdays, Jeremiah Smith is completely reshaping the commercial landscape of college athletics. Commanding a lucrative deal, Smith is widely recognized as one of the highest-earning players in all of college sports and a valuable non-quarterback in the country. He is widely regarded as one of the most commercially valuable wide receivers in college football, generating much more than his closest position peers. His impressive endorsement portfolio reads like a Fortune 500 roster, featuring major brand partnerships. Driven by elite on-field performance and unmatched off-field marketability, Smith's unprecedented earning power proves that wide receivers can hold top-tier financial clout in the modern NIL era.
03
Jeremiah Smith transfer portal rumors: is he staying at Ohio State?
Despite relentless speculation and massive rival offers from other schools – yes, Jeremiah Smith is staying at Ohio State. Any buzz surrounding a transfer portal entry was completely shut down by Smith himself, who reassured Buckeye Nation on social media with a concise message: "Not going nowhere." Locked in for the upcoming 2026 season, the consensus All-American returns to lead the Buckeyes' offense and remains on track to be eligible for the 2027 NFL Draft.
04
High school football track record
Jeremiah Smith
© Maggie Zerbe
Smith attended Hollywood, Florida’s Chaminade-Madonna Prep High School and played on its football team. With Smith as wide receiver, the team closed out 2023 ranked second in the nation, with a 14-0 record.
Across these 14 games, Smith had 19 touchdowns and 88 receptions for 1,376 yards. In the last of these games, he scored a touchdown and caught 11 passes for 170 yards to win the state championship. Across his final two high school seasons, he scored 39 touchdowns in 28 games with 151 passes for 2,474 yards. He was also a track star who won individual Florida 110- and 400-meter hurdle state titles in his junior year.
At the end of the 2023 season, MaxPreps named Smith Player of the Year in Florida. Smith also earned the Nat Moore Trophy, given annually to the best high school footballer in Monroe, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties in Florida. He was also among 247Sports’ five finalists for the National Player of the Year title.
05
Recruited by Ohio State
Jeremiah Smith trains in Columbus, Ohio
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Smith’s accomplishments ensured he was heavily competed for in the 2024 college football recruiting season. Every major recruiting service ranked him as a five-star prospect, and he was the 2024 class’s first-ranked wide receiver — and first-ranked player across all positions by 24/7 Sports.
Smith verbally committed to Ohio State in 2022 and reaffirmed that commitment on Dec. 20, 2023 when he officially signed his letter of intent. In Smith's first game, he scored two touchdowns and became the first freshman to earn OSU’s Iron Buckeye honors for his offseason achievements. It's fair to say, then, that Smith is the most exciting newcomer to college football. See who else is defining the current era of college football stardom.
06
Why Jeremiah Smith is changing the wide receiver position
Jeremiah Smith’s physical attributes
In January 2024, Andrew Irvins, 247Sports’ Director of Scouting, shared his newest high school scouting report on Smith. Irvins dubbed Smith “one of the top prospects to come out of South Florida in the modern recruiting era.” Irvins also said that Smith is the “type of wide receiver that will give opposing defenses fits given the rare combination of his size, speed and hands.”
A living cheat code in modern college football
Jeremiah Smith
© Maggie Zerbe/Red Bull Content Pool
Smith, at 6’3” and 215 pounds, is such an imposing figure that he can overwhelm defensive backs just by being on the field. Irvins observed that he can also outrun crowded areas and avoid being tackled with no issue.
On top of that, Smith is known for his strength. Before he arrived at Ohio State, he was bench pressing 355 pounds and squatting 530 pounds. On top of that, he boasted a 10’10” broad jump, hit top speeds of 23.39 mph and has been reported to run a 4.35-second 40-yard dash. From his size to his strength and speed, his unmatched physical attributes make him a force to be reckoned with.
It’s clear that Smith is an elite playmaker whether he’s running or catching with one hand. His versatility on the field is why a September 2024 New York Times headline described him as OSU’s “ultimate cheat code.”
07
Jeremiah Smith’s awards and record-breaking achievements
Jeremiah Smith
© Nick Brown / Red Bull Content Pool
- In Smith’s freshman year, he shattered Ohio State’s freshmen receiving records for yards (934), touchdown receptions (10), 100-yard games (three), and receptions (57).
- The stats above made Smith the first-ranked college football freshman in yards and touchdowns, and the second-ranked in receptions.
- He won the Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year Award in 2024, following the award going to fellow Buckeye Marvin Harrison Jr. in 2022 and 2023.
- He also won the Thompson-Randle-El Freshman of the Year award in 2024, becoming just the 11th OSU footballer to earn this honor.
- He was named to the First-Team All-Big Ten in 2024.
- In December 2024, a panel of Associated Press voters named Smith the Big Ten’s Newcomer of the Year.
- In January 2025, Smith and Ohio State won the College Football Playoff National Championship.
08
Jeremiah Smith’s injury history
For fantasy players, NFL draft scouts and Buckeye fans tracking his durability, Smith has proven to be as resilient as he is talented. While his physical playstyle occasionally leads to minor bumps, he has avoided long-term structural injuries. To date, Smith has avoided the type of recurring injuries that typically cause durability concerns.
The biggest scare of his college career came in November 2025 when he suffered a serious rectus femoris (quad) strain against UCLA. He was initially projected to miss a few weeks, Smith sat out against Rutgers before battling through the pain to suit up against Michigan, even scoring a touchdown in that game. Outside of that mid-season quad issue, Smith has consistently maintained a clean bill of health. As he gears up for the next season, the latest Jeremiah Smith injury update confirms he entered the season healthy following recovery from his quad injury.
09
Does Jeremiah Smith have NFL potential?
Many analysts see Jeremiah Smith as a future NFL star
© Nick Brown / Red Bull Content Pool
Between the hype around him and commentary from one-time Buckeyes who have now gone pro, Smith has tremendous NFL potential. Former Buckeye Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who was a first-round draft pick to the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, told ESPN that, in his opinion, Smith would be ready for the NFL after just one year of college football.
Jeremiah Smith eligible for the NFL draft in 2027
That said, Smith is not eligible for NFL drafting until 2027. Still though, he has NFL analysts already talking, including ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky who said he would be the first overall pick in the 2024 draft if eligible.
"Wouldn't even be close," the former NFL quarterback said on ESPN’s Get Up. "He would easily be the No. 1 pick in the draft. You will have teams in two years for that '27 (NFL Draft) tanking for him."
10
Jeremiah Smith: redefining excellence in college football
From his stature to his accomplishments, Smith is rewriting the rules of being a wide receiver and a college football player in general. Those who continue watching his journey will get to say they were fans before he became a household name. And given Smith’s NFL prospects and immense talent, household-name status is well within reach for him — and right now, he’s already changing the game.