Jeremiah Smith has been nearly unstoppable since arriving in Columbus, but this spring, the Buckeyes’ star receiver is running into a new kind of resistance: his own defense.
Smith has reportedly shown some frustrations during spring practices as he’s been garnering extra attention even from his own team. For a player used to dominating one-on-one matchups, the added attention can be irritating. But given his production and reputation, it’s also completely expected.
In fact, it would be more surprising if Ohio State wasn’t making life difficult for him right now.
How Jeremiah Smith Is Learning to Handle Constant Double Teams at Ohio State
The Buckeyes are preparing their top weapon for what’s coming this fall and beyond. If Smith is going to be the focal point of the offense, opposing defenses will do everything in their power to slow him down. That means bracket coverage, safety help over the top, and constant physicality at the line of scrimmage.
Former Buckeye and NFL veteran Bobby Carpenter summed it up bluntly:
“You think there’s an NFL coach that’s not going to double-cover you as much as they can? They’re not idiots.
“That’s just part of being the man.”
It’s a reality Smith has been building toward his entire career. A former five-star recruit, he arrived at Ohio State with sky-high expectations and has exceeded them at every turn.
At 6-foot-3 and 223 pounds, Smith has the physical profile of a fifth-year senior, never mind a true junior at 20.
He is your prototypical No. 1 receiver with that size-to-speed combo, reliable hands, and an advanced route tree, making him one of the most complete wide receiver prospects in college football, even if he isn’t eligible until next year. His dominance has been consistent, and the proof is in the pudding, finishing with top-five PFSN CFB WR Impact grades at the position in each of his first two seasons in Columbus.
With fellow receiver Carnell Tate off to the NFL, where he’s projected as a top-10 prospect on PFSN’s consensus board for the 2026 draft, Smith is expected to carry an even larger share of the offensive load as one of the true leaders of the team. Until Ohio State finds a consistent secondary option, opposing defenses will have little reason not to send double teams his way and make him a priority to deal with on a weekly basis.
That’s what makes these spring frustrations a valuable experience for Smith.
Seeing constant double teams now forces Smith to refine the finer details of his game, whether that’s reading leverage, adjusting routes on the fly, or finding ways to win even when he’s the clear focal point of the defense. This will only help him grow the mental side of his game, along with the physical.
It also gives head coach Ryan Day and his staff time to design counterpunches for when these situations happen during the season. It is better to figure things out now than in mid-October during a rivalry game.
Ohio State isn’t just preparing for Saturdays; they’re preparing Smith for Sundays.
The attention he’s seeing in practice may be frustrating in the moment, but it’s part of a bigger picture. If anything, it’s confirmation of what everyone already knows: Jeremiah Smith is the guy. And being “the guy” means the defense is always coming for you.
