According to Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, star receiver Jeremiah Smith has somehow gotten even better heading into his sophomore season.
During his Big Ten Media Days Press Conference on Tuesday, Day described the physical improvements made by the first-team All-American receiver ahead of his second year with the Buckeyes.
“He’s gotten bigger and stronger and faster than he was last year,” Day said. “He was at workouts the other day, and (strength and conditioning coach Mickey Marotti) constantly says during our warmups, he’s the first guy every time we run through and we’re warming up. The first guy every single time. He just sets such a standard. You don’t need to motivate Jeremiah.”
Day acknowledged that Smith may not be the most vocal leader inside Ohio State’s locker room, but he’s more than capable of leading by example. Smith, the former No. 1 overall recruit in the 2024 class, proved he was one of the hardest workers on the team last offseason when he was one of 10 players named as an “Iron Buckeye,” an honor bestowed upon players, who, according to Marotti showcase “unquestionable training, dedication, determination, discipline, toughness and leadership.” Although Smith was one of, if not the most, productive freshmen in college football in 2024, his work ethic hasn’t gone anywhere, according to Day.
“What he did as a freshman speaks for itself, and he may not be an older guy, he may not be really vocal in terms of his leadership, but what he does on the field speaks for itself, and the work ethic he’s brought into this year has been exceptional,” Day said. “I think that he deserves an opportunity to be here today, and that’s why he’s here.”
For someone as quiet as Smith, he’s had a newsworthy offseason. In addition to being placed on the cover of the new EA College Football 26 video game, Smith made notable comments about The Game. In an interview for a story by The Athletic published on July 1, Smith, who, along with the rest of his Ohio State teammates, fell to Michigan 13-10 to end the 2024 regular season, promised that Ohio State would not lose to Michigan again as long as he’s with the Buckeyes. According to Day, Smith’s comments are a product of his competitive nature.
“He’s very, very competitive, and he’s not used to losing,” Day said of Smith. “We lost the first game against Oregon. He was angry. He wasn’t the only one, and certainly he expects to win every single game. He expects to win every drill that he’s in. That’s just the way he’s wired. When you ask a question, you’re going to get a genuine, authentic response from Jeremiah, and I think the guys feed off of that. When he tells you something, you can believe it. There’s no reading between the lines with him. He may not be a man of many words, but when he says something, you’re listening, and we’re all listening, and he’s the ultimate competitor.”
