Ryan Day impressed with Jeremiah Smith's work ethic in practice

Seemingly month after month the legend and lore surrounding Ohio State true freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has continued to increase. Putting together a strong offseason where he’s performed so well on the field that many have him already tabbed as the next great Buckeyes wide receiver.

But Smith has not only turned head in Columbus with his play, but done so against a secondary that some regard as the best in college football. Featuring elite cornerbacks like Denzel Burke and Davison Igbinosun and a new addition at safety, Caleb Downs. A challenge that head coach Ryan Day revealed Smith has welcomed since he arrived in Columbus earlier this year.

“He loves it,” Day said during fall camp. “We were up in the training table the other day and said that’s why I came here, to get better, and I’m going against these guys, I’m learning about myself, and I just love his spirit. He’s so competitive.”

As a prospect, Smith has as highly-touted as it gets, ranked the No. 1 player for the 2024 class with all of the physical tools to be a great college and professional player at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds. But the traits of the former five-star recruit is what’s impressed his new head coach the most early in his college career.

“For somebody who’s as talented as he is, first off, he’s strong, he’s powerful, he’s big. But it’s his work ethic, to me, that just jumps out,” Day said. “He’s physically tough, I mean physically he’ll get after you. But also when he gets out there very, very few MAs (missed assignments) for a young player. He takes his game very, very seriously, he puts the work in off the field, and if he doesn’t make the play, he’s hard on himself.”

The standard at the wide receiver position has been set extremely high recently at Ohio State. A standard that it sounds like Smith will be able to uphold as early as this upcoming season. Especially with the Buckeyes starting off the season against three straight Group of Five opponents before getting into Big Ten play.

“Rare do you find somebody who’s as talented, but has really good discipline and skill at that age. So, we haven’t played a game yet, but he’s building a lot of respect amongst his teammates for sure,” Day concluded.

Fans can get their first look at Smith in game action on August 31 when Ohio State opens the season against Akron at 3:30 p.m. ET in a matchup airing on CBS.