Jeremiah Smith is the most effective participant remaining within the School Soccer Playoff, and he nonetheless has two extra years of faculty left.
The proficient Ohio State receiver hauled in seven catches for 187 yards and two touchdowns in a 20-point victory in opposition to the Oregon Geese within the Rose Bowl.
At simply 19 years previous, Smith can be the No. 1 receiver drafted within the 2025 NFL Draft. He’d in all probability be a prime 10 choice. And that’s not hyperbole.
Presently, NFL mock drafts have Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan as a prime 5 decide. He put up 1,319 yards in his junior season with the Wildcats. He had eight touchdowns and 26 whole in his profession.
What’s wild is the truth that Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly actually couldn’t determine find out how to use Smith early within the season. Certain, Smith had just a few huge video games smattered about, paired with highlight-worthy catches that made followers say, “Wait, this can be a teenager?”
However that teenager has blossomed late within the season. When the lights have shined the brightest for the Buckeyes, they’ve one way or the other managed to shine even brighter for Smith, who has develop into the engine behind all the pieces Ohio State does offensively.
His 187-yard, two-touchdown efficiency within the Rose Bowl solely got here off the heels of his 103-yard, two-touchdown efficiency in opposition to Tennessee within the first spherical.
It was obvious all yr that there wasn’t a defensive again within the nation that might defend Smith. This was obvious in Ohio State’s loss to Michigan, however Kelly and quarterback Will Howard simply couldn’t handle to get him concerned.
Issues have utterly modified since then, and Smith is the focus of all the pieces that Ohio State does. His body one way or the other seems bigger than it did earlier within the season, constantly drawing comparisons to Julio Jones. Once more, he’s 19 years previous.
The stats are weird for a real freshman, however if you really watch him play the video games, he genuinely seems the a part of a man that might play on Sundays.
Significantly. In Week 18, so many NFL groups are benching their starters as a consequence of having their playoff spot locked up or as a consequence of full ineptitude that has them crawling to the end line. Think about Smith—just some days after balling out within the Rose Bowl—dominating backup secondaries.
In a wild dream state of affairs that may by no means really occur, Smith ought to be allowed to collectively petition the NCAA and NFL to declare for the NFL Draft as a consensus first-round decide. There’s actually no likelihood that he can be chosen any later than the highest 20 picks.
Within the period of NIL dominating faculty soccer, Smith shall be fairly alright financially after two extra seasons in Columbus, leaving the remainder of us soccer followers ready two extra seasons to look at him play on Sundays.
He’d be the most effective receiver within the 2025 draft class. He can be the most effective receiver within the 2026 NFL Draft class. In 2027, he’ll be part of fellow present teenager and Alabama star Ryan Williams as the highest extensive receiver chosen.