Tim Tebow: Jeremiah Smith is 'the next Julio Jones'

Even before Jeremiah Smith set foot on campus for his freshman year at Ohio State, the excitement was building. Ryan Day famously breathed a sigh of relief on National Signing Day when his National Letter of Intent came through – and he’s lived up to the billing in a big way as a freshman.

Early on, it was apparent Smith had the traits to make an immediate impact. Tim Tebow saw practice before the season got started and saw something similar to a receiver he played against from 2008-2009: Julio Jones.

Tebow pointed out the similarities between Smith and Jones during Thursday’s Heisman Trophy Preview Show on ESPN. His frame and big-play ability stand out, and it’s why the former Florida star argued Smith is a scary matchup for opposing defenses.

“We need to give a lot of love to Jeremiah Smith at Ohio State,” Tebow said. “When I went to practice at the beginning of the season, I looked at him and I couldn’t help but think, ‘Oh my goodness. It’s the next Julio Jones.’ And I know that is a big comparison, but he looks just like him. He’s a big-bodied receiver that goes up, physically, and catches the football.

“He’s able to big-body DBs, he’s able to make one-handed catches just like that. This is a kid that makes DBs look little and they are afraid. They do not want to face him.”

Jones, of course, put together a storied career at Alabama from 2008-10 as a transformative player under Nick Saban. He totaled 2,653 yards over his three years in Tuscaloosa, including 1,133 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior to become a Second Team All-American and the No. 6 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.

As a freshman in 2008, Jones totaled 924 yards and four touchdowns. Smith has already surpassed that touchdown total, leading FBS freshmen with seven scores through six games. He also has 553 receiving yards to lead Ohio State entering a matchup with Nebraska this week.

It would’ve been hard to script a better start to Smith’s college career after arriving as a highly touted recruit. He was a Five Star Plus+ prospect and the No. 1 overall player from the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.