By Jyesha Nance
The day Jeremiah Smith set foot on Ohio State’s campus, there was no doubt that he would make an immediate impact and become one of the nation’s most elite wide receivers.
Smith has now put together back-to-back historic games just one week apart. During a 59-3 victory over Kent State on Sept. 19, he broke the Buckeyes’ receiving yardage record, surpassing Michael Jenkins’ mark of 2,898 yards with a 23-yard catch on Ohio State’s second drive. He finished that game with five catches for 85 yards, bringing his total to 2,958 receiving yards.
On Saturday, Smith became the first player in Buckeyes history to surpass 3,000 career receiving yards during a 42-19 win over Illinois. The young phenom caught 12 passes for 217 yards and scored four receiving touchdowns; his longest was a 72-yard strike from Julian Sayin. Notably, this performance marked the first 200-yard game of his career.
Year by year, Smith has built an impressive resume, consistently ranking among the top players in college football. As a freshman, he immediately emerged as the centerpiece of the Buckeyes’ offense, helping lead the team to a College Football National Championship while earning Big Ten Receiver of the Year and Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors and First-Team All-American status.
In his sophomore season, Smith earned Unanimous All-American honors and his second consecutive Big Ten Receiver of the Year award. With two impressive seasons under his belt, it was clear his third year would be packed with star-studded performances.
Smith is a Heisman favorite this year; the award is the most prestigious individual honor in college football. If he continues to blaze the football field, he will surely be one of the four finalists in New York on Saturday, Dec. 10.