Jeremiah Smith has been loyal to the Ohio State football program despite some teams trying to poach him. Every time a team tries to tamper with him, he stiff-arms them away. Now, he is approaching his final college football season before he declares early for the NFL Draft.
Smith has proven to be one of the best receivers in the history of the Ohio State Buckeyes. He has a chance to break several records this year. Smith did not grow up a Buckeye fan, however. Growing up in South Florida, Smith actually grew up as a fan of Alabama.
Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith wanted to go to Alabama
Despite growing up in South Florida, Smith actually grew up as a fan of the Crimson Tide. He revealed on Media Day that he wanted to go to Alabama before Nick Saban retired, but they didn't recruit him.
Could Jeremiah Smith have ended up in the SEC:
— Stephen Means (@Stephen_Means) July 29, 2026
“Growing up my dream school was Alabama when Nick Saban was there. But they wasn’t recruiting me.”
Smith was in the 2024 recruiting class. Saban retired after the 2023 season, and Kalen DeBoer apparently didn't make Smith a priority. Instead of recruiting him, DeBoer focused his attention elsewhere. Ohio State was able to swoop in and land him as the top recruit in the country.
DeBoer wanted Ryan Coleman-Williams instead, and that was a huge mistake. Last year, all of his stats went down from what they were as a freshman. Meanwhile, Smith has doubled up Coleman-Williams in almost every major stat over the last two seasons.
Ohio State has been the beneficiary of Alabama's mistake. Smith became the best player for the team during their national championship run in 2024. Last year, he was even better. In 2026, Smith is determined to be the best player in the country and help the Buckeyes win another national title.
Smith wouldn't have been this good if he had played for the Crimson Tide. In fact, the poor quarterback play from the Tide wouldn't have allowed Smith to accumulate the stats that he has over the past two years. He also wouldn't have a national championship ring.
Jeremiah Smith has a chane to be Ohio State's all-time best receiver
By the time the season ends, Smith has a chance to hold every Ohio State receiving record. He could go down as the greatest receiver in program history. Even if he has a decent season, he should lead the program in catches, touchdowns, and receiving yards. That is the mark of an all-time great.
After this season, Smith has a chance to be a top-three pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. At the very least, he will be a top-five pick as the premier weapon in the country. NFL teams are drooling to have him come into their organization and be an immediate impact player.
Smith knows that it is all out in front of him. Right now, he is focused on winning every game for the Buckeyes. Ryan Day mentioned during Media Day that Smith could barely walk before the Michigan game last year and still played great. That's how much he loves the Buckeyes now.
What could have been for Bama.
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