Ohio State Newcomers Impress in Game 1 of the Season

© Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK

Heading into the Horseshoe on Aug. 31, the question most Ohio State fans asked themselves was if this team was as good as advertised. By the time the game ended, the Buckeyes answered that question. Ohio State beat Akron 52-6.

Fans were asking a new question after the game. Namely, just how good this team could be? This should have not only the Big Ten Conference worried but top national contenders, too.

The Buckeyes started slow and were only up 17-3 at halftime against Akron. Transfer quarterback Will Howard, in his first Ohio State home game, most likely had some nerves. For Howard, this is understandable. Just consider that this Ohio State team might have the highest expectations in years. Howard and Co. stepped up in the second half and showed that all the preseason hype was warranted.

As for the game, the final score wasn’t the impressive part. It was that this probably was the worst Ohio State will play all season. That’s terrifying to opposing teams. Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day looks to have done a fantastic job through the Transfer Portal. Day added from it, but his biggest get might be a young playmaker from high school who showed there is no limit to just how good he will be.  

True Freshman Standout

Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith showed why he was the No. 1 prospect coming out of high school. Smith came to Columbus with equal the hype that Ohio State had entering the season. Both the Buckeyes and Smith look like they will live up to that hype. 

People around the program have said Smith was ahead of Marvin Harrison Jr. when he arrived on campus. Harrison went on to win the Biletnikoff Award and be an NFL first-round draft pick. Smith also surrounds himself with talent.

He also has the best coaches, trainers and strength and conditioning coaches around him. Smith might win the Biletnikoff Award many times during his career at Ohio State.  

In his first game at the Shoe and for Ohio State, Smith led all wide receivers in yards, receptions, TDs and yards per reception. He had 6 catches for 92 yards, 2 TDs and averaged 15.3 yards per reception. Emeka Egbuka had 4 receptions for 51 yards and averaged 12.8 yards per reception. Smith might end up as one of the top receivers who has played for Ohio State. That’s how much talent this young man has. The scary part is no one knows what his ceiling is as a player.

Ohio State Welcomes Howard

Howard came from Kansas State this past offseason. Wildcats fans would argue that Howard didn’t leave but was pushed out because he was about to lose his starting job. The Buckeye fans will argue that Howard left a possible Big 12 Conference contender for a team projected to win a national championship. At Kansas State, Howard never had the weapons he has at Columbus, Ohio. 

Day pointed out after the game that Howard got off to a slow start. Howard went 17-for-28 passing for 228 yards and 3 touchdowns. Howard left the game with approximately 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter. If he had played the full 60 minutes, then his numbers would have been much more impressive. Howard also gave fans a glimpse of his running abilities. He had 4 carries for 18 yards. Howard and the Ohio State offense are still getting their timing and rhythm down. Once they do, there is no telling what this offense will do. 

Howard entered the season as a name being mentioned among Heisman Trophy candidates. With the talent around him, Howard should have his name surrounding that award all year. What might hurt his chances here will be the number of games he gets pulled from with Ohio State leading big.

Ohio State fans waited for Aug. 31 for months and the Buckeyes didn’t disappoint them. The Buckeyes earned all the flowers and compliments thrown their way. Now, the real pressure will start to build for this Buckeye team. Just beating a rival and winning a B1G championship is not acceptable. It's now national championship time or failure that faces this Buckeyes team.