Ohio State Buckeyes’ star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has quickly emerged as one of the most electrifying players in college football and a frontrunner for the 2025 Heisman Trophy. However, according to the sophomore sensation, his rapid growth isn’t just the product of his talent and the Ohio State coaching.
Jeremiah Smith Studying the Greats to Elevate His Game
Smith says he’s modeled parts of his game after NFL standouts Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson, as well as legendary receivers Julio Jones and Calvin Johnson.
Smith revealed the players he watches most at Ohio State’s fall training camp when breaking down film. “I’m a big receiver, so you know, I like guys like Julio [Jones], Calvin Johnson, and in today’s game, you got Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase,” Smith said. “Really, those four guys, they all got juice and [are] physical at the point [of] catch.”
Smith praised Jefferson’s precision route running and ability to create separation while admiring Chase’s physicality and explosiveness after the catch. Jones inspires him with a dominant catch radius and physical frame, and Johnson, better known as “Megatron,” studies how to use size and stride length to overwhelm defenders.
It’s a blend of styles that has already translated to elite production. As a true freshman, Smith shattered all of Pro Football Hall of Famer Cris Carter’s Ohio State rookie records, hauling 76 receptions for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns.
From Freshman Phenom to Heisman Contender
Smith’s first season in Columbus was filled with highlight-reel plays, including a pivotal 56-yard grab on 3rd-and-11 late in the fourth quarter of the national championship game against Notre Dame, a drive that sealed Ohio State’s 34-23 victory. He led the nation with six receptions of 50-plus yards, proving to be a genuine deep threat capable of flipping games in a single play.
All Day Competition 😤 pic.twitter.com/oVshdDdeYe
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 2, 2025
The honors followed: Big Ten Wide Receiver of the Year, Big Ten Freshman of the Year, first-team All-America by USA Today, and finalist for the Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Year Award.
Now, entering the 2025 season, Smith is the face of Ohio State’s offense and a legitimate candidate for every major award, from the Biletnikoff to the Maxwell.
Leadership and Mindset for a Repeat
While his on-field skills draw comparisons to NFL legends, Smith is focused on growing as a leader. “I’m not really a vocal guy, but I’m trying,” he admitted. “Just got to know how to talk to guys [and] what way reaches them the best.”
KEEP READING: Jeremiah Smith’s Heisman Path Hits Major Obstacle as ESPN Analyst Predicts LSU QB’s Success
That leadership will be vital as Ohio State replaces key veterans from last year’s national title team. Smith pointed to younger receivers like Quincy Porter as players who need to step up, emphasizing the “next man up” mentality in the Ohio State receiver room.
With his blend of size, speed, and a skill set forged by studying some of the best to play the position, Smith is poised to lead Ohio State’s title defense, and perhaps add a Heisman Trophy to his growing list of accolades.
