Should Jeremiah Smith make NFL reconsider eligibility rules?

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates a first down catch during the second half of the College Football Playoff quarterfinal against the Oregon Ducks at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Jan. 1, 2025. Ohio State won 41-21. Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Should Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith make NFL reconsider eligibility rules?

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Jan 2, 2025 4:16 PM ET

It's a shame Ohio State Buckeyes freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is ineligible for the 2025 NFL Draft.

A player must be out of high school for three years to be eligible for the NFL Draft. The rule makes some sense. Most freshmen need time to develop. However, Smith (6-foot-3, 215 pounds) looks like an exception.

While watching Ohio State dismantle Oregon in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day, The Athletic's Dane Brugler tweeted Smith would be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft. He also compared him to former Atlanta Falcons star wideout Julio Jones, a seven-time Pro Bowler.

Julio Jones, oops I mean, Jeremiah Smith would go No. 1 in this draft.

No doubt in my mind. https://t.co/bMyxhuHnPN
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) January 1, 2025

Per On3's Ari Wasserman, Oregon third-year head coach Dan Lanning said Smith is "NFL-ready" after the Ducks' 41-21 loss.

Against Oregon, Smith finished with seven receptions for 187 yards and two touchdown catches, earning Rose Bowl Offensive MVP. In five of 14 games this season, the 19-year-old has had 100 receiving yards or more.

JEREMIAH SMITH IS UNREAL‼️

HE FINDS THE END ZONE AGAIN pic.twitter.com/N8J1f9giQF
— ESPN (@espn) January 1, 2025

According to Lori Schmidt of The Columbus Dispatch, Smith holds Ohio State freshman records for receptions (70), receiving yards (1,224) and touchdown catches (14) in a season.

If Smith wanted to, he could take the NFL to court, but he would likely lose.

In 2003, former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett sued the NFL to become eligible for the 2004 NFL Draft. The league won in an appellate court, and the Supreme Court upheld the ruling. Clarett never played another game at Ohio State or in the NFL.

While Smith will have to wait until the 2027 NFL Draft, that doesn't mean the NFL shouldn't consider revising its policy. Gifted prospects like Smith certainly belong in the league, even if they're a freshman.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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