American 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.
“It’s a blessing, but you don’t want that hype to affect you,” Smith said during a recent Ohio State Football interview. “I just keep my head down, just find ways to get better each and every day.”
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. Keep reading to learn all about Jeremiah Smith and his stellar achievements to date.
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
- Where is Jeremiah Smith from? Miami Gardens, Florida
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High school football track record
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.
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Recruited by Ohio State
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. Suffice it to say that Smith is the most exciting newcomer to college football.
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Redefining the wide receiver role
Unmatched 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.”
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. He was also broad jumping 10-10 and running at maximum speeds of 23.39 miles per hour. 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. His versatility on the field is why a September 2024 New York Times headline described him as OSU’s “ultimate cheat code.”
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Jeremiah Smith’s awards and record-breaking achievements
- 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.
Does Jeremiah Smith have NFL potential?
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.
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."
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.