Jeremiah Smith has continued to establish himself as one of the biggest reasons behind Ohio State’s impressive start to the 2026 season. The Buckeyes improved to 4-1 after securing a convincing 31-14 victory over Iowa on Saturday. Smith’s production and impact have already earned plenty of praise, and former Ohio State star Terry McLaurin added to the recognition with high praise for the standout receiver.
During an interview with Jordan Schultz, McLaurin also explained why he believes Smith possesses the qualities needed to become a truly generational player.
“I'm gonna tell you the number one thing that's really hit home where I knew he was gonna be generational,” McLaurin said.
McLaurin pointed to a particular moment that helped convince him Smith was destined to become an exceptional player. According to the veteran receiver, the assessment came from Ohio State strength coach Mickey Marotti, whose reputation for being direct and honest made his evaluation particularly meaningful. Marotti had previously made a strong prediction about Smith, telling McLaurin that the young receiver was going to be “the best one.”
While Smith’s physical ability and impressive production are already clear, McLaurin believes his mentality is what truly separates the Ohio State star from other talented players.
Article Continues Below“No matter the type of success that JJ has had, he continues to work hard. He continues to improve the guys around him. He's a very unselfish player, too. Like he just cares about winning. He demands the ball.. He can be the top pick,” McLaurin added.
McLaurin’s praise comes after another spectacular performance from Smith against Iowa. The Ohio State receiver erupted for 11 catches, 206 yards, and two touchdowns.
Through five games this season, Smith has recorded 44 receptions for 617 yards and nine touchdowns.
If Smith maintains this level of production throughout the remainder of the season, his NFL Draft stock could rise even further and the Buckeyes star could eventually go from making his mark in Ohio State’s record book to hearing his name called as the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft.