Jeremiah Smith Makes Early Impact for Ohio State

© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK

Ohio State true freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has been an imposing force for the Buckeyes early this season. The 18-year-old phenom has already established himself as a focal point of offensive coordinator Chip Kelly's high-powered offense.

Smith received an unprecedented amount of hype ahead of his arrival in Columbus, Ohio, last spring. 247Sports had Smith as not only the No. 1 wide receiver in the 2024 class, but the No. 1 player overall. The Chaminade-Madonna (Fla.) High School product was always expected to see the field early in the year. He has exceeded that expectation by appearing to be the top target thus far for transfer quarterback Will Howard.

Jeremiah Smith's Early Play

Smith leads the Buckeyes in receiving yards and touchdowns two weeks into the season. He has racked up 211 yards and 3 touchdowns on just 11 catches. Smith has proven to be Howard's go-to receiver on third down so far as well. He has primarily played on the boundary where he has taken advantage of many one-on-one opportunities.

Smith has performed like a seasoned veteran early despite two drive-killing mistakes on his first collegiate series. He dropped a perfect pass on a tunnel screen against Akron that would have likely led to him scoring. Smith then committed a false start the next play that pushed Ohio State back five yards before failing to convert on third down.

He immediately bounced back with a few receptions and a 16-yard touchdown catch later in the first quarter. He scored his second TD soon after his first one. Smith's ability to move on from two quick mistakes is very impressive for such a young player. He looked like a freshman for a single drive before performing as if he is one of the most experienced players on the field.

Smith continued his dominance early in the Western Michigan game. He turned a short curl route into a 70-yard touchdown on the second possession of the game. His night was finished early after gaining 119 yards on only 5 receptions in the blowout win.

Looking Forward at Ohio State

The current Ohio State season record for a freshman is 8 receiving touchdowns, held by Cris Carter. Smith might break that mark well before the regular season is over. Carter also holds the freshman receiving yards record with 648. Smith could pass that before even reaching the halfway point of the season.

Smith will likely command more attention against better competition moving deeper into Big Ten Conference play. His bigger tests will be against Oregon cornerback Jabbar Muhammad and Michigan's Will Johnson. Smith's advantage is that he has been going up against future NFL players in the Ohio State secondary for months now. He should be more than prepared as he has been routinely battle-tested in practice.

Smith conducts himself like a pro and appears to already be one of the top offensive weapons in the country. Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day and Kelly will look to utilize him more as the season continues. Smith and Ohio State host Marshall at noon on Sept. 21 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus.