OSU’s Jeremiah Smith to Start vs. Akron; WR Was No. 1 Overall Recruit in 2024 Class
Featured Columnist IVAugust 27, 2024
Jason Mowry/Getty Photography
Ohio Negate head coach Ryan Day confirmed to journalists on Tuesday that huge receiver Jeremiah Smith, a correct freshman, may maybe be one of many group’s starters in Saturday’s season-opening matchup against the Akron Zips.
Dan Hope @Dan_Hope
Asked if he expects Jeremiah Smith to be on the sphere for the first snap on Saturday, Ryan Day presents a succinct response: “Yes.”
He says Brandon Inniss is “right there” with Emeka Egbuka, Carnell Tate and Smith and all four huge receivers will play.
Smith became the tip total recruit within the Class of 2024 and became described as “one of many tip potentialities to come attend out of South Florida within the smartly-liked recruiting generation and the form of huge receiver that can provide opposing defenses fits given the uncommon aggregate of his size, tempo and hands” by 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins.
Returning senior Emeka Egbuka—who recorded 66 catches for 1,039 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2022 earlier than missing rather a lot of video games final season attributable to an ankle injure—will seemingly be expected to be the tip risk within the passing game.
Nonetheless Smith, Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss may maybe accept to serene all be given significant roles as successfully for but another loaded Buckeyes’ receiver room.
Ohio Negate has long been one thing of a receiver pipeline for the NFL.
Marvin Harrison Jr. became a predominant-spherical pick this past year. Jaxon Smith-Njigba became a predominant-rounder within the 2023 draft. Every Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave had been first-spherical choices in 2022. Good ample. J. Hill became a seventh-rounder in 2020. Parris Campbell (second spherical) and Terry McLaurin (third spherical) went within the 2019 NFL draft. Curtis Samuel (second) and Noah Brown (seventh) had been selected in 2017. Michael Thomas (second) and Braxton Miller (third) went in 2016. Devin Smith (Devin Smith) and Evan Spencer (sixth) came off the board in 2015.
And that is the reason right taking a observe attend at drafts over the last several years.
Whether or no longer Smith continues that long line of receiving talent stays to be viewed, though he no doubt has the upside to became the next celebrity Buckeyes’ wideout. Incomes a critical role as a correct freshman, at a college notorious for its receiving situation, will not be any minute feat.
Nonetheless Smith is no longer letting that procure to his head.
“I comprehend or no longer it is a huge expectation for me on fable of I’m the No. 1 player in a rustic coming in and your entire hype spherical me,” he told journalists earlier in August. “So, I mean, I right strive to block out all that stuff and right focal level on the first part, right the group and our receiver room and the locker room. And when the first game comes, and if I develop no longer exceed the expectations that y’all accept for me, I mean, I develop no longer in actuality care. I right are making an strive to head accessible and accept the sport.”
