Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith speaking at the Big Ten Football Media Days. Credit: Avi Schoenberg | LTV Sports Producer
CHICAGO – Jeremiah Smith has already built a decorated résumé in two seasons at Ohio State.
A unanimous All-American and two-time Big Ten Receiver of the Year, Smith enters his junior season with an opportunity to add to his list of individual honors.
But with NFL Draft eligibility awaiting him after the season, his focus remains on the Buckeyes’ success.
“I’m trying to make everybody around me better,” Smith said Wednesday at Big Ten Media Days. “That’s what all the greats did – Tom Brady, Kobe Bryant, that’s what LeBron James is doing – so that’s what I’m trying to do. I’m trying to leave the jersey better than I found it.”
Now one of the most experienced players on Ohio State’s offense, Smith is embracing greater expectations as a leader.
“Now he’s the elder statesman in the room and everybody on that team is looking up to him,” head coach Ryan Day said. “He has a certain level of respect nationally, from little kids to all the above, because of the way he plays, but most importantly in that locker room on the team.”
“Everybody’s watching every move he makes, and he’s going to have a big impact again on how we move forward.”
After tallying 2,558 receiving yards and 27 receiving touchdowns through his first two seasons–Big Ten records–Smith needs 43 receptions, 341 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns to break each of Ohio State’s program records.
Smith’s mentality and preparation have been evident since his earliest days on campus.
“He had a mindset that he wanted to make an impact here,” Day said. “He already has done that. He was one of the only Iron Buckeyes as freshman to walk into a program and then play as a freshman, right from the jump, but that had to do with his approach. He was physically prepared, mentally prepared, emotionally prepared and he’s continued to do that as he’s gone on.”
Despite his records and accomplishments, Day said there is much more to Smith than what he does on the field.
“He’s a gentleman, high-character guy who does everything right,” Day said. “You have the on the field, you have the off the field and we’re very fortunate he’s a Buckeye. He’s done so many great things for us, but I think he wants this year to be his best.”
Quarterback Julian Sayin said it’s easy to see Smith is a great receiving target, but he is also a great teammate.
“He’s an extremely hard worker,” Sayin said. “[He’s] just a guy that represents us in the right way and [is] extremely humble.”
While Smith is on watch lists for some of college football’s premier individual awards, including the Heisman Trophy, his focus remains on helping the team find success that eluded it last year.
“I’m really just about the team first and that’s winning the national championship, Big Ten championship,” Smith said.?
