Why 5-star Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith 'is ready to play against the best corners in the country'

The lofty expectations for the Ohio State Buckeyes were talked about at length during Big Ten Media Days on Tuesday. But many where also curious about a true freshman who’s been making a ton of noise in Columbus this offseason. Jeremiah Smith.

The five-star early enrollee has quickly built up a strong reputation on the Buckeyes team and beyond. Creating his own personal level of lore surrounding his big play ability and readiness to make an immediate impact this upcoming season on Ohio State’s offense.

Lettermen Row’s Spencer Holbrook sat down with On3’s Andy Staples at Big Ten Media Days and spoke about the true freshman that’s become the talk of the town.

“Jack Sawyer said, ‘I needed to see him in practice, and he was a five-star just like I was, but I needed to see him and if he didn’t play that’s okay.'” Holbrook said. “And then he said I saw him in the first practice and I said, ‘Holy s—, this guy’s good.'”

Smith has quickly earned the respect of his peers, even Ohio State’s veterans. Senior cornerback Denzel Burke was asked who his favorite person to guard on the team and chose the 5-star addition.

“He’s said JJ. Why? Because he’s that guy. The senior corner who’s supposed to be a Thorpe finalist who’s gonna probably challenge Will Johnson for First-Team All-Big Ten. He wants to go against the true freshman wide receiver because the true freshman wide receiver makes him that much better,” Holbrook said.

Even Ohio State’s head coach Ryan Day gave praise to Smith in a unique way, by being careful with handling an 18-year-old who has the potential to be the next Ohio State great at wide receiver as early as this season.

“I have not seen Ryan Day act like this. I asked him personally, I said, ‘What do you think about JJ?’ And he said, ‘I’m gonna keep my mouth shut. I don’t want to comment on it.’ He was just smiling because he doesn’t want to set the expectations too high, but he also knows what the deal is,” Holbrook said.

“He knows who the guy is.”

It will be intriguing to see how big of a role Smith plays in his freshman season with the Buckeyes given the sheer amount of overall firepower already on the team’s loaded offense. But regardless, Ohio State’s first two games of the season will likely allow him to showcase his skills and make an early splash and introduction to college football.

“Sorry Akron, sorry Western Michigan,” Holbrook said referring to the Buckeyes’ first two opponents. “First couple weeks of the year you want to set the tone? Throw one up to him. If you put Jeremiah on a MAC corner, I pray for that in that MAC corner. Like that’s gonna be something because Jeremiah is ready to play against the best corners in the country.”