Jake TrotterApr 14, 2025, 07:00 AM ET
Shut
- Jake Trotter is a senior creator at ESPN. Trotter covers faculty soccer. He additionally writes about different faculty sports activities, together with males’s and girls’s basketball. Trotter is living within the Cleveland space along with his spouse and 3 youngsters and is keen on his fatherland Oklahoma Town Thunder. He coated the Cleveland Browns and NFL for ESPN for 5 years, transferring again to university soccer in 2024. Prior to now, Trotter labored for the Middletown (Ohio) Magazine, Austin American-Statesman and Oklahoman newspapers prior to becoming a member of ESPN in 2011. He is a 2004 graduate of Washington and Lee College. You’ll be able to achieve out to Trotter at jake.trotter@espn.com and observe him on X at @Jake_Trotter.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Moments after Ohio State’s annual pupil appreciation scrimmage, a mob of undergrads swarmed Jeremiah Smith as he stretched close to the sidelines of the Woody Hayes Athletic Heart. Smith stood and signed as many autographs as he may just whilst police struggled to transparent house for him.
The thrill across the megastar Buckeyes vast receiver has handiest intensified since he made the game-clinching catch in opposition to Notre Dame — a play that sealed Ohio State’s first nationwide championship in a decade and made Smith a Buckeye legend in only one season.
But whilst Ohio State enthusiasts are nonetheless savoring that name, the NFL is already fascinated about Smith’s long term — even if he may not be draft-eligible for any other two years.
At the back of the scenes, NFL entrance place of work executives, scouts and coaches are calling Smith a “generational” prospect — the made from one among faculty soccer’s maximum dominant true freshman seasons in contemporary historical past. In interviews with a dozen of them, ESPN was once informed the 6-foot-3, 215-pound phenom would not fall out of doors the highest 5 of this yr’s draft — in spite of being simply 19 years previous.
“The reality you might be that massive, transfer that fluidly, then have the frame keep watch over to regulate your frame to make those ridiculous catches — it is simply, test, test, test,” stated an NFC body of workers government.
Two vast receiver coaches added that Smith can be their top-rated receiver — forward of Colorado two-way megastar Travis Hunter.
“Simply as a result of his upside — it is during the roof,” stated a type of assistants, who additionally perspectives Smith as a awesome professional prospect to any of the file seven receivers taken in remaining yr’s first around, together with Professional Bowl learners Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. “He simply adjustments the sport for defenses. You’ll be able to’t simply go away him on an island. When you’ve got a man like that, it simply adjustments the whole lot. … I have never observed any flaws in his recreation.”
One common supervisor even claimed that, have been he to be had for this draft, Smith would move No. 1. No vast receiver has been decided on No. 1 since Keyshawn Johnson in 1996. The similar GM stated that former Oklahoma operating again and 2012 league MVP Adrian Peterson was once the one different true freshman he can recall being this able for the NFL.
“On this specific draft, there is a large number of just right gamers, a large number of intensity, however when you consider simply the explosive, dominant playmakers, [Smith] would stand out,” stated an AFC scout. “That is what jumps off the movie whilst you watch him. You set him on this draft and you might be like, ‘Smartly, I do not in reality see someone on that stage.'”
Ryan Day’s in-time response when he discovered Jeremiah Smith was once signing with Ohio State.
That is the visible definition of RELIEF.@nbc4i %.twitter.com/0b5PFikxpT
— Jerod Smalley (@JerodNBC4) December 20, 2023
OHIO STATE COACH Ryan Day was once addressing the media on December signing day in 2023 when he was once knowledgeable that Smith had formally signed with the Buckeyes. Day breathed a sigh of reduction, then feigned fainting from the rostrum.
A five-star prospect with provides from just about each powerhouse program, Smith arrived in Columbus remaining spring with as a lot hype as any Buckeye recruit in contemporary reminiscence.
By hook or by crook, he exceeded it.
Even in a stacked Buckeyes offense with operating backs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson in addition to receiver Emeka Egbuka — all projected height 50 selections on this draft — Smith stood out.
In his Ohio State debut in opposition to Akron, Smith dropped his first goal. However he bounced again to attain a couple of touchdowns, offering a glimpse of what was once to come back.
Over the next weeks, Smith dazzled with an array of one-handed grabs and explosive scoring performs. Via early November, he had damaged Ohio State’s true freshman receiving information set via Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer Cris Carter in 1984.
Smith wound up main the Buckeyes with 1,315 receiving yards and 15 landing receptions. He exploded within the Faculty Soccer Playoff in opposition to probably the most country’s height defenses. Regardless of being held to just one reception within the semifinal victory over Texas, Smith nonetheless completed with 381 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns over Ohio State’s 4 playoff victories.
“He obviously proved it down the stretch how just right he’s,” stated an AFC body of workers government. “I used to be simply so inspired with the mix of dimension, quickness for his dimension, route-running really feel and the way he wins the one-on-ones.”
That culminated along with his largest one-on-one clutch of the yr within the nationwide name recreation.
What to understand for the 2025 NFL draft
• Mocks: Kiper | Miller | Reid | Yates
• Ratings: Kiper | Miller | Reid | Yates
• Buzz | Group wishes | Comps | QB Board
• Select order | Scouting evals | Extra
Following a livid second-half rally, Notre Dame was once at the verge of having the ball again within the ultimate two mins with an opportunity to tie. Going through third-and-11, the Buckeyes put the sport in Smith’s arms. Quarterback Will Howard heaved the ball down the sidelines to Smith, who beat Notre Dame cornerback Christian Grey to haul within the 56-yard reception. 4 performs later, the Buckeyes kicked the 33-yard box purpose to seal their 34-23 victory.
“That simply confirmed how a lot they imagine in him … and the way freaking just right he’s to make that play when the sport is at the line,” an NFL receivers trainer stated. “I am simply so inspired with how poised and mature he’s at his age, with all of the hype and expectancies round him.”
Even after generating such an iconic catch, Smith stated he stays hungry.
“Simply because I made that one play … can not get big-headed,” he stated remaining week. “I all the time really feel like there is room for development. By no means really feel such as you simply were given it. That is something a large number of other people reduce to rubble on, really feel like, ‘Oh had one just right yr, OK, I am comfortable.’ That isn’t in me. I’ll proceed to do it for years and future years.”
That is a terrifying proposition for the remainder of faculty soccer. It is also the largest explanation why Ohio State may just protect its name in spite of dropping 14 starters from remaining season’s championship crew.
Smith may have taken his abilities in different places. A couple of brokers speculated that Smith may have commanded a minimum of $5 million in NIL cash from different faculties had he entered the switch portal. As a substitute, he has been fascinated with turning into a extra vocal chief for the retooling Buckeyes.
“A large number of it’s finding out how you can turn out to be a just right teammate, finding out how you can inspire different guys round them to play profitable soccer, which he does,” stated Day, who praised Smith’s humility beneath this kind of vivid highlight. “You are beginning to see him pop out of his shell a number. … He is nonetheless only a younger guy looking for his method and he’s. While you take a look at him, you do not assume it, however he’s.”
This spring, the Buckeyes have experimented with using Smith out of the slot so as to add tactics to get him the ball. They are additionally increasing his course tree, which figures to strengthen his NFL readiness.
“You are chasing that 1%. … That is what he is chasing,” stated Ohio State offensive coordinator and receivers trainer Brian Hartline, who has challenged Smith to beef up his soccer IQ, expecting how defenses guard him as an alternative of reacting to it. “He has probably the most absolute best objectives and he is not [there] at this time. He is doing a just right task being arduous on himself.”
Freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith had 381 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns all through Ohio State’s 4 playoff victories. Picture via Todd Kirkland/Getty Photographs
OHIO STATE’S PROWESS in generating NFL vast receivers in recent times is unequalled.
In Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Marvin Harrison Jr., the Buckeyes have produced 4 first-round selections at receiver up to now 3 drafts on my own. Egbuka may just stay that streak going if he is going within the first around.
One AFC body of workers government was once briefly bought on Smith’s NFL long term whilst observing him dominate in a preseason observe, prior to he had even performed in a recreation.
“No one may just contact him,” he stated. “Could not even get a hand on him.”
Now, he sees sunglasses of A.J. Inexperienced and Julio Jones in Smith’s recreation.
The ones two went within the height six of the 2011 draft. Inexperienced went directly to make seven Professional Bowls with the Cincinnati Bengals. Jones was once a five-time All-Professional for the Atlanta Falcons prior to retiring this month.
“He is fluid like A.J., however explosive and a canine on the catch level like Julio,” the AFC government stated.
Others within the NFL when compared Smith’s taste and professional possible to Jones, who boasted a identical body.
Jones, who additionally starred as a real freshman for Alabama, become a countrywide champion. The Falcons famously traded up within the draft to get him.
One NFL receivers trainer predicted Smith will turn out to be “probably the most sought-after receiver prospect since Jones.”
New Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia has marveled at Smith’s “presence” at the box this spring.
The previous Detroit Lions head trainer, who gained two Tremendous Bowls as New England’s defensive coordinator, together with Tremendous Bowl LI over Jones and the Falcons (Tom Brady’s 28-3 comeback) stated if he have been game-planning in opposition to Smith, he would double him on each snap.
“No method you would go away him one-on-one,” Patricia stated.
Editor’s Choices
2 Similar
Smith is certain to stand much more consideration from opposing defenses as a sophomore. With a brand new quarterback and several other untested playmakers round him, Smith will shoulder a larger load for the offense, particularly early within the season.
Like Smith, Peterson was once additionally a freshman surprise. He just about rushed for two,000 yards, completed moment within the Heisman Trophy and propelled the Sooners to the nationwide name recreation. However over the following two seasons, he battled accidents and loaded defensive containers. Whilst Peterson nonetheless went No. 7 to the Minnesota Vikings in 2007, some scouts warning that Smith’s trail may just observe a identical arc beneath the microscope. Scouts said that Smith’s recreation may just get nitpicked the nearer he will get to the 2027 draft. One in particular famous that he desires to peer if Smith can run extra exact routes as an alternative of depending on his bodily dominance.
“[Marvin Harrison Jr.’s] routes have been exact, like he’d already been within the league,” the scout stated. “He had that consistent play velocity out and in of his breaks and knew how you can set guys up again and again. [Smith], you notice just right routes needless to say, however he nonetheless seems like what he’s — a more youthful man who continues to be rising into his recreation and hasn’t had to all the time be exact as a result of he simply wins as a result of he is higher than you.”
Some other NFC body of workers government added, “3 landing video games in opposition to groups that may not be within the [playoff] are not going to get a lot of your consideration [anymore].”
That is the usual Smith has already set for himself. And the NFL can not wait to peer what comes subsequent.
“We’re going to see how Jeremiah’s tale is going,” an AFC scout stated. “However everybody [in the league] is speaking about him. You listen all of the buzz: ‘Who is that this dude? How are we able to get this man on our crew?’
“That is the monitor he is on at this time.”
