Pro Football Focus is calling this Ohio State freshman wide receiver a generational talent. With two seasons still ahead, he’s on pace to become one of college football’s all-time greats.
Jeremiah Smith didn’t just make a splash as a true freshman — he took over the entire sport.
After helping lead Ohio State to a national championship, the rising sophomore wideout is already being compared to some of college football’s all-time greats. With two full seasons still ahead in Columbus, the buzz around him is only getting louder.
Pro Football Focus is leading the charge. The analytics site recently named Smith the No. 1 player in its annual College 50 list — making him just the second rising sophomore ever to top the rankings, and the first since Trevor Lawrence in 2019.
“This is truly going to be, I think, one of the greatest receivers we’ve ever seen in college football,” said Max Chadwick, PFF’s lead college football analyst. “That is Jeremiah Smith.”
The numbers back it up.
Smith led all Power Four receivers with 15 touchdown grabs and ranked as PFF’s most valuable wideout in the country, based on their wins above replacement metric.
“Incredibly refined skill set,” Chadwick said. “Everything I’ve heard about the kid — he’s the hardest worker in the building. Every single time.”
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For Chadwick, it’s not just about what Smith has already done — it’s about what’s still to come. At just 19 years old, he’s already dominating the biggest stage in college football.
“He is a generational type of receiver and still has to play two more years of college football,” Chadwick said. “The kind of hype he had coming out of high school wasn’t even enough for how good he was as a true freshman.”
Football runs in the family. Smith is the cousin of Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith, and that connection helped shape his mindset early — one built on professionalism, preparation, and high expectations.
Coming out of Chaminade-Madonna High School, Smith was the consensus No. 1 overall recruit in the 2024 class, earning a rare 101 grade from 247Sports — one of the highest ever given. Even with sky-high expectations, he still managed to exceed them in Year 1.
Smith finished his freshman season with 76 catches for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging a ridiculous 17.3 yards per reception. He scored in every game but four and posted five 100-yard performances.
What Smith did in his first year would be a career for most. For him, it’s just the beginning.
Category: General Sports
