What's Next for Ohio State Receiver Jeremiah Smith?

Nobody required scouts and coaches to point out that Jeremiah Smith would make an excellent college wide receiver. He had already caught the attention of recruitment experts, and just looking at him indicated he could be quite exceptional. This Ohio State player from Miami Gardens, Florida, stood out even before anyone started talking numbers.

Nevertheless, it was unexpected how swiftly Smith acclimated to the collegiate level of play. He appeared seasoned right from the start, amassing 92 yards and crossing the goal line twice during his inaugural college game.

In his following half-dozen matches, he managed to score a touchdown in every game and recorded two performances with over 100 yards of reception. This led him to break freshman school records for most receiving yards (1,315), catches (76), and touchdowns (15). He shattered the previous benchmarks established by Cris Carter which had remained unbroken for forty years.

Many outstanding wide receivers have passed through. Ohio State Over the past four decades—in which some of the finest performances occurred within the last ten years amid today’s high-octane passing offenses—it still required a player as exceptional as Smith to overhaul Ohio State’s record book, pushing the esteemed Carter into second place.

Leveraging Smith as their primary asset, Ohio State secured their initial national title under coach Ryan Day’s leadership. This victory made them the inaugural team to claim success within the 12-team College Football Playoff framework. Additionally, they managed this feat despite facing one of the toughest post-season competition schedules ever seen in collegiate football.

All of this begs the question: what comes next for Smith?

The Hurdles

Each team varies annually, and Ohio State will be seeing many departures from their 2024 national championship squad. For Smith specifically, this means saying goodbye to starting quarterback Will Howard, along with his standout teammates—running backs TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, vital members of the offensive line, and seasoned wideout Emeka Egbuka.

Howard’s exit is likely the clearest move that will impact Smith directly. Repeating Smith’s impressive rookie stats would be challenging with an inexperienced starting player stepping in. While Julian Sayin seems like the frontrunner to replace Howard, it’s too early to say definitively that he has secured the position. Expect tough competition from both Lincoln Kienholx and promising new arrival Tavien St. Clair.

Each of them will need to gain experience through practical work. Having a reliable person like Smith around makes the adjustment smoother, particularly since you can count on someone of his skill level to assist whenever you're unsure. This is where the departure of Egbuka, Henderson, Judkins, and the other linemen is most missed.

In 2025, Ohio State might lack a similarly reliable rushing attack, which could lead to their offense facing more evident passing situations throughout the coming season. A replacement for Egbuka needs to step up. This role will probably fall to Carnell Tate, who demonstrated himself as a consistent third option in 2024 with statistics of 52 catches, 733 receiving yards, and four touchdowns. However, once Tate takes over this position, another player must rise to take his place.

For Tate to match Egbuka’s performance, he’ll need to achieve approximately another 30 receptions, 300 receiving yards, and six touchdowns. Someone like Brandon Inniss would have to surpass these numbers just to approach Tate’s projected stats in 2024. This means that Smith might face increased pressure in 2025 as his teammates step up their game. Despite being quite competent, Smith could attract significant defensive focus unless others demonstrate sufficient threat levels to divert defenders’ attention.

There’s also the familiar issue of the sophomore slump. Smith has every chance to keep improving under Brian Hartline and elevate his game, considering his evident skills. Nonetheless, Ohio State supporters have witnessed promising first-year players regress previously. Once athletes accumulate enough footage for an entire season, their possible flaws might become apparent, allowing competitors to exploit them more effectively. In such cases, sophomores must adapt further merely to maintain their current performance levels.

Therefore, Smith has several hurdles to tackle in 2025.

The Potential

Despite all of the above, Smith is simply a generational talent, and it will be difficult to opponents to stop him even with outstanding game plans. It’s tough to scheme around a guy who can make one-handed circus catches in the back of the end zone despite good coverage. Sometimes talent simply wins.

Many analysts, trainers, and talent spotters have already indicated that Smith has what it takes to compete in the NFL today. Their consensus stems from factual evidence. If put onto an NFL team immediately, Smith would not only secure a starting position but also make significant contributions as a wide receiver. This assessment reflects both his tangible assets—such as height, velocity, and power—as well as his less quantifiable qualities like dedication, eagerness for self-enhancement, and thorough understanding of football strategies.

Given these factors, Smith might surpass his 2024 statistics even if he has a rookie quarterback, less emphasis on Ohio State’s rushing attack, and an absence of a third wide receiver matching Tate’s performance from last season. His potential for improvement remains considerable.

Regardless of how the 2025 season unfolds for him, every time Smith steps onto the field, all eyes will be on him—from supporters and rival athletes and mentors to analysts and professional football evaluators.