By the time the 2026 season ends, Jeremiah Smith will likely be considered the greatest receiver in the history of the Ohio State football program. Smith will almost certainly hold every receiving record when it comes to the Buckeyes. He also might leave having won two national titles in three years.
Smith enters the year as the best player in the country, and he's certainly the best player on the team. The best thing about Smith is how unselfish he is as a teammate. In a recent interview, he gave a quote that shows how he knows he's the best player, so he doesn't need to say it.
Jeremiah Smith shows unselfishness in recent interview
In an interview with Brandon Marcello of CBS Sports, Smith gave a quote that fans will love.
"I'm not just going to the coach's office and saying, 'Oh, give me the ball.' I'm not demanding," Smith said. "They know they've got to give me the ball. I don't have to say it. It's in plain view."
Essentially, Smith wants his play to do the talking. It's pretty cool that someone can be that good, so he knows that everyone else knows how good he is. He's right, though. The coaches know that in order to win games, they have to give him the football as much as possible.
Smith also let everyone know that it would have been a stupid move to go somewhere else this offseason, despite some programs offering him $10 million to do so.
"It would be dumb for me to leave Ohio State and go to another team when I have the best offensive line in the country, the best quarterback in the country, the best coaches in the country. That would be a stupid move for me to go somewhere else."
Ohio State could still see the best of Jeremiah Smith yet to come
Even with how great Smith has already been, they could still see the best of him this year. Last season, he had 87 catches for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns. He did all that while missing a game against Rutgers and only playing in the first half against UCLA.
If Smith stays healthy this season, there's no telling what his stats could be. He could have close to 1,700 yards and 18 touchdowns if things go well for the Buckeyes this season. Smith is the strongest and the fastest he has ever been, so he should be the best he's ever been this year.
Julian Sayin completed 77 percent of his passes last year, so Smith is getting the ball on target and on time. Keeping that the same this season will help the Buckeyes navigate a brutal schedule. Still, those teams don't have the same kind of talent that Ohio State does.
Smith has been loyal to Ohio State fans, and the fans have been loyal back to him. He is one of the most beloved figures in recent memory, and he has a chance to become an all-time fan-favorite this year.
Add us as a preferred source on Google