Jeremiah Smith is not simply the next great Ohio State wide receiver.
“He’ll probably be the best receiver to come through here,” Ohio State CB Denzel Burke said. “He’s already on that verge, so really happy for him.”
Smith is clearly on that path after breaking Cris Carter’s school records for receptions, yardage, and touchdown catches as a freshman. The Miami Gardens, Florida native should add to his 63 receptions, 1,037 yards, and 12 touchdowns against No. 1 Oregon in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl on Wednesday.
Burke is qualified to provide his perspective, having played with and practiced against Ohio State’s recent generation of NFL first-round receivers. Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Marvin Harrison Jr. have all been picked in the top 20 of the last three drafts, and senior Emeka Egbuka could join them this spring.
Smith, on the other hand, possesses all of the characteristics that allow him to stand out.
At 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, he would have been a highly sought-after recruit based just on athleticism. But he also has good hands and can make contested catches. Smith’s quick acceleration and excellent ball-tracking skills make him a deep danger, as seen by his five grabs for more than 50 yards.
Chip Kelly, the offensive coordinator, has seen guys with those physical gifts cruise through football, even as they advance to higher levels. Smith isn’t one of them.
“That’s rare, and it’s the one thing that I believe distinguishes him and makes him so unique: he could certainly turn up every day without really practicing and still be a fantastic player. But I don’t think he wants to do it. “He’s truly driven to be great,” Kelly stated.
