Jeremiah Smith makes what should be seen as a scary revelation for Ohio State’s opponents during the 2025 season

There was a point last year when I was writing about Jeremiah Smith, and I figured he would be one of the top playmakers for Ohio State—but not the top guy, especially with first-round pick Emeka Egbuka still on the roster.

It’s hard to come into Ohio State and immediately become the focal point of the offense, but that’s exactly what Smith did. Looking back, my early takes on what his freshman season could look like seem a bit silly now. He went off in 2024, finishing with over 1,300 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns.

It’s rare for a freshman to do what Smith did—it simply hadn’t happened to that level in Columbus. Now, heading into his sophomore season, the star wideout is poised for even more success.

Jeremiah Smith’s growth is a scary thought for opponents

Smith was part of the Buckeye contingent that traveled to Las Vegas last week for Big Ten Football Media Days, and unsurprisingly, the star receiver was a popular figure. The former No. 1 overall recruit gave insight into how his game has evolved since last season.

“I know what defenses are doing this year coverage-wise,” Smith said. “I understood a couple last year, but I do it better this year. I feel like I’m going to be able to play faster than I did last year. Last year, I wasn’t playing as fast as I wanted to. But this year I know exactly what’s going on, and I’m going to play faster.”

To hear Smith say he wasn’t playing as fast as he wanted—yet was still the most feared wideout in college football—is quite the thought. The sky’s the limit for him in Columbus, and we’re talking about a player who very well could be in the Heisman conversation this season.

Ohio State is replacing a large chunk of its offense, but Smith returns alongside Carnell Tate, Brandon Inniss, transfer tight end Max Klare, and what should be a strong running game. If teams plan to key in on Smith, the Buckeyes still have the weapons to make them pay.

Smith is telling us the game has slowed down for him, and things are coming easier. That’s not good news for anyone facing Ohio State in 2025.