Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith a ‘generational talent’

Jack Daniels had never seen a hunt like this before.

The South Florida high school coach for 35 years had Chaminade-Madonna — and Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith — in the playoffs.

“They were really out-rebounding us pretty good, and they had the running back throwing the ball,” Daniels recalled. “And (Smith) went up — I think he was about 5 feet up the goal post over a kid who had a Power 4 corner kick (Kevin Levy, who is now at Rutgers). … It was unbelievable.”

Cardinal coach Newman has faced dozens of NFL wide receivers over the years, including Pro Football Hall of Famer Devin Hester and Super Bowl champion Anquan Boldin.

However, for Daniels, Smith stands alone.

“He’s head and shoulders, by far, the best I’ve ever seen,” Daniels said, comparing Smith’s high school prowess to that of reigning Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who hails from Boynton Beach Community High School.

“There was nothing like it.”

Bishops Carroll coach Jorge Zagales, who also lost to Chaminade in the playoffs, remembers only one player in his three decades on the bench who can dominate like Smith.

“I coached against Sean Taylor. … And Jeremiah is up there, if not the same as Sean Taylor,” Zagales said of the former Pro Bowl safety from Gulliver Prep, who died at age 24. Hall of Fame I feel like this is the way Jeremiah is headed.”

Clearwater Central Catholic coach Chris Harvey grew up in West Virginia watching Randy Moss play at DuPont High School. As a coach, Harvey had never encountered anyone like Moss — until he met Smith in Florida’s state championship game.

“I’ve seen what (Moss) did to career databases, so imagine what he did to West Virginia’s databases in high school,” Harvey said. “I love my home state. But we’re not the West Virginia of Florida. We have guys — and Jeremiah Smith made us look like DBs in West Virginia high school.”

All this may seem exaggerated.

Except for seven games into his freshman season at Ohio State, Smith — who is still just 18 years old — is one of the best receivers in college football, along with Alabama freshman Ryan Williams and Colorado Heisman Trophy contender Travis Hunter.

“His physical skills (6-foot-3, 215 pounds) are kind of unmatched for someone that age, but it’s his maturity level that sets him apart. There’s a lot of guys who can relate to that hype. You’re the only one who can fit in with that hype,” said Ohio State’s offensive coordinator and former UT coach. NFL Chip Kelly: “I don’t see that from him,” he noted, noting that Smith continues like a “10-year NFL veteran.”

“How he handles meetings, how he handles practices, it’s rare,” Kelly said.

Despite playing in an Ohio State offense filled with future pros, including running backs Quincheon Judkins and Trevion Henderson, and preseason All-American wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, Smith leads the Buckeyes with 623 receiving yards on 35 receptions.

Last week, Smith tied a record set by Chris Carter as a freshman at Ohio State in 1984 with his eighth touchdown catch, beating the Nebraska defense for a 60-yard score.

On Saturday, in a Big Ten showdown against third-ranked Penn State, Smith needs just seven receptions and 26 yards to break Carter’s other freshman program records, though he is still well behind Michael Crabtree’s national freshman record-setting records At Texas Tech in 2007 (134 catches for 1,962 yards and 22 touchdowns).

Smith has reached the end zone in every game this season, highlighted by his dazzling one-handed shots against Michigan and Iowa State.

Two Incredible One-Handed Fists by Jeremiah Smith 🤯

They can’t guard him 👀 pic.twitter.com/vGUUs6rn41

– Sports Center (@SportsCenter) September 29, 2024

For those who encountered Smith in high school, those startling surprises are nothing new.

In the state championship game, Harvey assumed Chaminade quarterback C.J. Bailey was throwing the ball away.

“Then this arm comes out of nowhere,” Harvey said. “And (Smith) pulls it back for a landing, like Stretch Armstrong. It was definitely one of the best shots I’ve ever seen. But the thing about it is he does it so much, he doesn’t even get excited about it.”

Harvey and Clearwater Catholic lost their past two state championship games to Chaminade by a combined score of 104-14. Smith caught 11 passes for 170 yards in the second title game en route to a 56-0 win for a third straight Chaminade state championship.

Afterward, USF coach Alex Golish, who was in attendance, consoled Harvey, telling him: “This is what happens when you play with generational talent.”

“And it is what it is,” Harvey said. “And outside of Randy Moss, I’ve never seen someone with the ability to control a game at that position the way he did.”

Smith did not reach this level by chance.

North Carolina running back Davion Gause, who grew up with Smith and played with him at Chaminade, remembers Smith being cut from the youth football team 11 years ago.

“He would come to the park every day and watch us practice and play catch with his dad all the time,” Goss said. “When he came back the next year, he was a different player.”

Bailey, who played on a different youth team, recalled Smith dominating the championship game the following year.

“He was killing us,” said Bailey, now NC State’s starting quarterback.

Bailey, Goss and Smith later joined forces at Chaminade, forming one of the best high school teams in the country. Chaminade coach Damion Jones said he has never had a player more committed and worked harder in training than Smith.

“His mentality, the way he’s so young, is crazy,” said Jones, who has coached Miami Dolphins quarterback Tyler Huntley and Cincinnati Bengals running back Zach Moss. “I’ve never seen him before…he’s the complete package.”

When he was young, Smith suffered a hip flexor injury. Jones implored Smith to eliminate some practices to allow the hip to heal.

“He got mad at me,” Jones said. “I don’t miss training,” he told me. “I don’t miss the actors.”

Smith brought that work ethic to Columbus. This summer, he became the first Ohio State freshman to earn the “Iron Buckeye” title, given to the top performers in offseason workouts.

“Jeremiah is already a freak in the weight room,” said Egbuka, who also received the honor.

However, it’s the one-handed catch that has set Smith apart this season.

After Odell Beckham Jr. made the famous one-handed touchdown catch for the New York Giants in 2014, Goss remembers Smith toiling endlessly trying to recreate it.

Later in Chaminade, Smith and teammate Joshisa Trader, now a receiver at Miami, worked on one-handed catches using the pitcher’s machines daily. Jones may get upset when players try to hold with one hand in games. But after seeing how strict Smith was with these practices, Jones had to back down.

“The stuff you all see now in college with them catching one-handed, I’ve seen crazier stuff from him,” Bailey said.

One of those one-handed catches came during a win over Miami Central on ESPN.

“(He’s) going to kill other defenses,” said Pitt defensive end Zachary Crothers, who also played for Chaminade. “You could tell the defenses were scared. They didn’t want to be there.”

Bailey knew Smith would be special during their first 7-on-7 tournament together; Smith initially played for Monsignor Edward Pace before transferring to Chaminade as a sophomore. The Lions were down by a score, and time was running out.

“We got a play,” Bailey said. “This is a watershed moment. But (Smith) goes to (the offensive coordinator) and says, ‘I want to fade.’ Coach says, ‘OK, let him fade.'”

Bailey lofted the ball to Smith, who sent the pass down over the defender for a touchdown. Chaminade then went for two to win the match.

“And we’ve never lost a 7-on-7 tournament,” Bailey said. “With him, I saw everything.”

Despite being the No. 1 high school receiver in the country, Smith only asked Jones for the ball once.

The opposing defensive back from American Heritage kept talking to Smith during one of Chaminade’s few closely contested games.

“So we threw a bomb at (Smith) and he fell on top of him,” Jones said. “The one thing about JJ is that he’s quiet and humble. But he also has the mentality of a dog inside him.”

Smith has maintained the same mentality in college. Over the past three years, the Buckeyes have generated four first-round picks at receiver in Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jackson Smith-Njigba, and Marvin Harrison Jr.

This spring, the Arizona Cardinals selected Harrison with the No. 4 pick, making him the highest-drafted receiver in Ohio State history. But Smith-Njigba says he believes Smith can eventually reach a higher level than any of them — even though he won’t be eligible until the 2027 draft.

“He can play a year in college and be ready for the league,” Smith-Njigba said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a young receiver like him before.”