Ohio State freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) scored a touchdown to make it 21-0 against Purdue in the dying minutes of the first half. With this touchdown, Smith broke the record for touchdowns by a true freshman, surpassing Cris Carter’s previous record of seven. Credit: Sandra Fu | Photo Editor
Ohio State is known as “Wide Receiver U” for a reason.
From Chris Olave to Garrett Wilson to Jaxon Smith-Njigba to Marvin Harrison Jr., Columbus has proven to be a direct pipeline from college football to the NFL.
A likely addition to that list? Jeremiah Smith.
The freshman broke, with ease, records for touchdown catches, receptions and receiving yards that were held for four decades by Buckeye great Cris Carter.
“Doing what I’m doing as a freshman, it hasn’t been done here in a very long time, so I’m just blessed to be in this position,” Smith said.
Quarterback Will Howard said despite being 18 years old, Smith looks like a veteran and is already at the pinnacle of the sport.
“I think he’s the best receiver in the country,” Howard said.
At Penn State Nov. 2, Smith brought his season-total receiving yards to 678 in eight games.
Saturday against Purdue, Smith hauled in two 17-yard catches in the second quarter, pushing him ahead of Carter’s previous records for 42 receptions and nine touchdowns.
Smith didn’t realize he had broken the records until he looked up at the jumbotron, but said it was a goal he set for himself before stepping onto the field in 2024.
“I wrote it down in my notes in January,” he said.
Howard said he knew Smith was going to be special from the start — from his athletic ability to the way he acts off the field.
“He’s one of the fastest guys on our team,” Howard said. “He’s physical, but I think one of the biggest things about him is the way he carries himself.
Head coach Ryan Day said now, more than ever, Smith will need to play his best football to help the Buckeyes get to where they want to go — a national championship.
“We’re in November now, so all those matchups are gonna matter,” Day said. “He’s getting stronger, getting more experience, he’s understanding coverages and different things.”
