Former Ohio State receiver Cris Carter sent a personalized video message to Jeremiah Smith on the day of the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony for Larry Fitzgerald. In it, Carter dared Smith to find his ceiling, which he believes could be at Fitzgerald's level, or even fellow Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver Randy Moss, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.
Carter detailed to Rich Eisen what he told Smith and Buckeyes WR coach Cortez Hankton in the video.
“I expect him to be the third gold jacket that I’ve been associated with and have had a role in their life,” Carter said on the Rich Eisen Show. “That being Larry Fitzgerald, that being Randy Moss and JJ (Smith). I expect it. I sent him that video, and I mean business. That is his genetic ceiling.”
Fitzgerald personally thanked Moss and Carter, his idols growing up in Minnesota and watching the Vikings, during his speech this past Saturday. Carter looped in Smith to a circle of all-time greats.
Meanwhile, Roddy White recently compared JJ to Julio Jones, White's former teammate and likely future Pro Football Hall of Famer.
"He’s fantastic. The things he’s already done in college football at Ohio State are unbelievable. If he stays healthy, he will break every Ohio State receiving record when it comes to yards, touchdowns, and catches," White recently told Hard Rock Bet. "He will be the next great receiver to come out of Ohio State, and he will be an elite NFL player too.
"Smith is a big kid as well. He’s 6′ 3″, 223 lbs, and he’s still very explosive. So, in terms of a comparison, I’d have to say he reminds me of my old teammate, Julio Jones, and the things he could do on the football field."
Jeremiah Smith could thrive alongside deep Buckeyes WR room
Smith's ability to thrive only increases with defenses having to worry about more than just him in the passing game. Luckily, the depth is there for Smith to be great, since Fitzgerald had Anquan Boldin for many years, while Moss and Carter had each other.
Ohio State has two slot transfers who are turning heads in fall camp with former LSU Tiger Kyle Parker and former UTSA Roadrunner Devin McCuin. Freshmen Chris Henry Jr. and Brock Boyd are immediate breakout candidates too. Meanwhile, a jump is always a possibility for senior Brandon Inniss, who has done things the right way for years and may finally have his time in the sun.
There are many options besides Smith for Julian Sayin to find downfield, which makes JJ all the more dangerous.
Hankton and Arthur Smith have a duty to make sure JJ looks like the definitive No. 1 WR in next year's NFL draft. There's a strong push to usurp him from Texas's Cam Coleman, who figures to up his production with Arch Manning throwing him the ball. Smith's Buckeyes teammates could have a small but not insignificant say in that matter, with Devin Sanchez and Co. getting to cover Coleman during a crucial and historic Week 2 clash in Austin.
Regardless, Smith's job is to be great on an individual level. He has the confidence to do so among some of the most accomplished receivers in history.
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