The Ohio State football program has the best player in the country on its roster. Jeremiah Smith has proven over the last two seasons that he is the ultimate weapon. He proved during the 2024 season as a freshman that he is a freak of nature who can't really be stopped.
Smith is clearly the most valuable player in the country. It's why other programs have tried to tamper with him every offseason. He is going to be the best player that the Buckeyes have, and Ryan Day and the athletic department have made sure that he is paid the proper NIL valuation for that.
Yet, Day has made it clear that he doesn't want to overspend NIL money on just a couple of players. He wants to be able to spread it around to multiple players who are producing. Based on the recent valuation of NIL given to all collegiate athletes, it's clear he has the best approach to things.
Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith ranked fifth in NIL valuations
According to On3, Smith is only getting paid the fifth-most in NIL money of any college athlete. He has a $5 million valuation, which is third among football players. He is getting paid less than both Dante Moore and Darian Mensah, neither of which are as good as Smith.
More surprisingly, Smith is getting paid less than two basketball players. Milan Momcilovic of Kentucky and Flory Bidunga of Louisville are both getting paid more than he is. That shows that Ohio State is actually doing a pretty good piece of business with Smith.
The most popular college sport is football. With that being the case, the best player in college football should get paid the most. The fact that Day was able to convince Smith to take less than that amount is a testament to his recruiting abilities and Smith's unselfishness as a teammate.
Ohio State has found a way to navigate the NIL world well
Keeping enough NIL money for the current guys on the roster while also having enough left over to use when it comes to high school recruiting. Ryan Day took a couple of years to figure it out, but he and Bjork have found what seems like the perfect sweet spot.
Ohio State is hoping to keep it that way when it comes time for David Gabriel Georges to make his college announcement. The Buckeyes are not willing to meet the absurd levels that Tennessee is for his services, but they feel confident that they have enough other things in their favor to help bring him in.
As far as Smith goes, the Buckeyes fully expect him to have a great final season wearing the Scarlet and Gray. He very well could lead them to another national championship. He would bookend his career with national championships, which would show he is a true all-time great.
Smith has a chance to take down Moore when Oregon comes to Columbus late in the year. Oregon got trounced by the Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl in the last matchup between these two teams in 2024. Smith had a massive game in that showdown, and you can bet he will again.
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