Ohio State true freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith sheds black stripe

COLUMBUS — It’s been four practices, and Ohio State true freshman wideout Jeremiah Smith has already shed his black stripe. He became the first Buckeyes player this spring to receive the post-practice honor Thursday, and, in the process, he broke the record for the fastest black stripe removal by a true freshman in spring practice.

The tradition was introduced in 2012 when Urban Meyer took over the program. A player losing his black stripe signifies that he is officially a Buckeye.

Smith has been making quite the impression since he arrived on campus as an early enrollee.

“He’s jumped right in and you guys see the talent, the talent is there,” head coach Ryan Day said of Smith back in February during winter workouts. “I think the thing that’s been the most impressive to me so far is the discipline he’s already built in his life and then the skill of playing the position at such a young age as well.”

Smith, the top overall prospect this past recruiting cycle, is one of two freshman wideouts entering Ohio State’s receiving corps this year. The other is fellow five star Mylan Graham, except Graham — the On3 Industry Ranking’s No. 19 overall prospect in the 2024 class — isn’t coming until the summer.

Regardless of when you arrive, there’s one thing that carries the most weight for first-year Buckeyes players, according to senior wideout Emeka Egbuka.

“When you’re a freshman, not too much else matters besides doing your job correctly,” Egbuka explained ahead of the Cotton Bowl, when asked about Smith. “And listening to coaching. You’re going to step into a position later down the road where they have more trust in you, and you’re going to be able to experiment and do more things.

“But when you first get on campus, show them that you know how to block right and run the correct assignment. Show them that you know the formations. Show them that you take lifting seriously, that you don’t show up late to meetings. If you’re an accountable young guy, and you just don’t mess it up, you’re gonna find a way on the field. And once you do that, your talent is gonna take you a long way.”

By all accounts, Smith is following the blueprint Egbuka described close to three months ago.

“I love the way he lives,” Buckeyes co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Brian Hartline said Thursday. “I love the way he approaches things, the questions he asks. I love the way he makes mistakes and then corrects mistakes. It’s very veteran-like.

“There’s so much ball he has to learn. He literally does things that are good. I’m like, ‘Do you know why that worked?’ He goes, ‘Coach, I have no frickin idea.’ So we’re trying to teach him all of that, why it worked, so then the consistency at which it works just goes through the roof.”

Hartline added: “I’m very excited and proud of the conversations were currently having.”

The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Smith is coming off a prolific career at Chaminade-Madonna, where he really turned heads with a 20-touchdown junior season while winning a Florida state title.

Counting Down

Buckeyes vs. Akron: 163 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 254 days

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