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Jeremiah Smith Receives 'Ridiculous' NIL Offer To Leave Ohio State

Originally posted on The Spun | By Chris Rosvoglou | Last updated Jan 24, 2025 11:13 AM ET

Ohio State freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith was so good this season that football fans already want to see him in the NFL. He'll have to wait two more years to go pro, but at least he'll be compensated during that time.

Smith, a 6-foot-3 wideout from Florida, finished the 2024 season with 76 receptions for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns. He had the game-sealing play for Ohio State in the national title game, hauling in a 56-yard pass from Will Howard on a crucial third down.

Not only is Smith an exceptional talent, he has a great work ethic. Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly raved about the freshman's preparation during the College Football Playoff.

"His physical skills are kind of incomparable for someone at that age, but it's his maturity level that has set him apart," Kelly said. "There's a lot of guys that could get caught up in that hype. You don't see that out of him. How he approaches meetings, how he approaches practices."

Smith's talent is so undeniable that Ohio State will have to fend off competition for him this offseason. According to On3, at least one team has made a $4.5 million NIL offer to him.

Ohio State will have to cut a huge check for Smith in order to retain him this offseason, make no mistake about it. On the flip side, the Buckeyes provide him the best chance to win, so if he wants to keep stacking rings, he should stay in Columbus.

Smith isn't the only player that Ohio State could lose to a lucrative NIL offer. There are also rumors swirling around wide receiver Carnell Tate. When asked about possibly leaving, he said, "I'm just going to celebrate with my team."

We'll see if Ohio State can retain its championship core.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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