For most of this season, Jeremiah Smith has been the best player in college football. He has been the only consistent part of Ohio State's offense this year. Without him, the Buckeyes would have three or more losses. He is the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy because of how well he has played.
To this point in the season, Smith has 62 catches for 1,067 yards and 13 touchdowns. Those stats are fifth, second, and second in the country. Just a few days before taking on Oregon, his chances to win the Heisman have gotten better with the news of Malachi Toney being injured.
Jeremiah Smith is definitively the best receiver in college football with Malachi Toney going down
While it was widely accepted that Smith is the best receiver in the country, there is no doubt about that now that Toney is hurt. Toney suffered a high ankle sprain during practice that will require surgery. He will be out for the rest of the regular season, although he could return for the CFP.
Toney plays for the number-one-ranked team in the country, Miami. Playing for the Hurricanes was the main argument that Toney had over Smith. He is on a team that is undefeated and that sits atop the CFP rankings. Winning was Toney's best argument. Now, he can't put up the requisite stats.
It sucks that Toney is hurt, but that does help the Buckeyes. Toney is by far the best weapon that the Hurricanes have. With him out, perhaps Miami will start to drop some games. That could help Ohio State's argument for a higher seed in the College Football Playoff.
Of course, Ohio State has to make the CFP first. If they drop another game, they likely will be left out. They don't have the juice with the rest of the schedule to make up ground. However, beating Oregon on Saturday would give them another ranked victory.
Ohio State needs Jeremiah Smith to play like a Heisman winner
If the Ohio State Buckeyes are going to win the rest of their games, they need Smith to play like the best player in the country. He is by far the best weapon that they have on the offense, and they need him now more than ever, now that Luke Fahey is the starting quarterback.
Even if Fahey gets replaced by Tavien St. Clair at some point, the Buckeyes still need Smith to be the unstoppable force he has been all year. That's the only way that the offense is going to be good enough to not just make the College Football Playoff, but have a shot to win a title.
Smith is the best receiver that the Ohio State football program has ever had. To have him win a Heisman Trophy would be the best possible way for his Buckeye career to end. If he doesn't do that, or win another national championship, he won't be remembered as I will remember him: the best Ohio State football player I've ever seen.
Add us as a preferred source on Google