Jeremiah Smith reveals why he rejected Ohio State’s partner in recent NIL deal

Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, entering his sophomore season with one of the highest NIL valuations in college sports, can collaborate with virtually any major brand of his choosing. Smith's true freshman season in 2024 was one for the history books, as the former five-star broke all of Pro Football Hall of Famer Chris Carter's Ohio State freshman records with 76 receptions for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns. Smith hauled in multiple national awards for his efforts, inlcuding Freshman All-America and First-Team All-America honors. The Opa Locka, Florida, native was also the Big Ten's freshman and receiver of the year and earned MVP honors for his Rose Bowl performance en route to the national championship. It's been a busy offseason for Smith from an NIL perspective. He entered the year having partnered with brands like Lululemon, Redbull and American Eagle Outfitters before Nintendo signed the $4.2 million star in January and Adidas joined the fold last week. Smith could have added a deal with Nike