Ohio State Freshman Receiver Stuns Experts, Destined to Rewrite Football History—Could He Be the Next Legendary Star?

Jeremiah Smith didn’t just arrive on the college football scene; he commandeered it — and how. As a true freshman, this Ohio State wide receiver didn’t merely contribute, he dominated, guiding the Buckeyes to a national championship and setting the bar sky-high for what’s still to come. Already being likened to legends of the game, Smith’s sophomore season promises to be nothing short of spectacular, with Pro Football Focus crowning him the top player in their College 50 rankings — a distinction only a legendary Trevor Lawrence shared as a sophomore since 2019. With 15 touchdown catches leading all Power Five receivers and rave reviews about his relentless work ethic, Smith’s trajectory is skyrocketing. At just 19, his combination of talent and grit hints at a generational star in the making — and trust me, the best is yet ahead. LEARN MORE

“Incredibly refined skill set,” Chadwick said. “Everything I’ve heard about the kid — he’s the hardest worker in the building. Every single time.”The numbers back it up.📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp “This is truly going to be, I think, one of the greatest receivers we’ve ever seen in college football,” said Max Chadwick, PFF’s lead college football analyst. “That is Jeremiah Smith.”Smith finished his freshman season with 76 catches for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging a ridiculous 17.3 yards per reception. He scored in every game but four and posted five 100-yard performances.Football runs in the family. Smith is the cousin of Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith, and that connection helped shape his mindset early — one built on professionalism, preparation, and high expectations.“He is a generational type of receiver and still has to play two more years of college football,” Chadwick said. “The kind of hype he had coming out of high school wasn’t even enough for how good he was as a true freshman.”After helping lead Ohio State to a national championship, the rising sophomore wideout is already being compared to some of college football’s all-time greats. With two full seasons still ahead in Columbus, the buzz around him is only getting louder.Smith led all Power Four receivers with 15 touchdown grabs and ranked as PFF’s most valuable wideout in the country, based on their wins above replacement metric.For Chadwick, it’s not just about what Smith has already done — it’s about what’s still to come. At just 19 years old, he’s already dominating the biggest stage in college football.Pro Football Focus is leading the charge. The analytics site recently named Smith the No. 1 player in its annual College 50 list — making him just the second rising sophomore ever to top the rankings, and the first since Trevor Lawrence in 2019.Coming out of Chaminade-Madonna High School, Smith was the consensus No. 1 overall recruit in the 2024 class, earning a rare 101 grade from 247Sports — one of the highest ever given. Even with sky-high expectations, he still managed to exceed them in Year 1.What Smith did in his first year would be a career for most. For him, it’s just the beginning.Jeremiah Smith didn’t just make a splash as a true freshman — he took over the entire sport.