Jeremiah Smith just put a price tag on his loyalty to Ohio State. The wide receiver turned down a king’s ransom in the transfer portal to finish what he started in Columbus.
The open market for college football players operates with a blank checkbook. Smith knows how much his services are worth to championship contenders. Speaking to reporter Chris Low this week, the receiver dropped an eight-figure evaluation of his offseason market value.
Jeremiah Smith’s $10 Million Decision for Ohio State
“Over 10 million dollars, easy,” Smith told On3 when asked about his potential portal earnings.
NEW: Jeremiah Smith tells @ClowESPN he could’ve made massive money if he entered the transfer portal this offseason:
“Over 10 million dollars, easy.”
Smith added: “I came to Ohio State for a reason, to win championships, develop as a player and a person and keep building on this… pic.twitter.com/xs1gtLKs0B
— On3 (@On3) April 8, 2026
That figure matches his collegiate production. Smith spent the 2025 season challenging Big Ten secondaries. He racked up 87 receptions for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns as a sophomore.
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Those numbers merely built upon a record-setting freshman campaign. He arrived on the national scene in 2024 with 76 catches for 1,315 yards and 15 receiving scores. You do not find that level of production anywhere else in the sport.
He possesses an NFL-ready frame at 6-foot-3 and 223 pounds. He tracks the football with precision down the sideline and overpowers smaller defensive backs at the catch point. His physical frame forces opposing defensive coordinators to roll safety help in his direction on every snap.
Every blue-blood program in the country would have emptied their collective war chests to secure his signature. Handing $10 million to a single receiver would consume a large percentage of any athletic department’s payroll. Opposing schools were apparently prepared to swallow that cost to pry him away from Ohio State.
The temptation to cash out and relocate had to be strong. Smith shut down the tampering and ignored the outside noise. He chose legacy over an immediate generational payday.
“I came to Ohio State for a reason, to win championships, develop as a player and a person and keep building on this legacy,” Smith added during his interview.
His decision sends a shockwave through the sport regarding the current state of NIL negotiations. We have reached an era where top-tier players are turning down NFL-level money to stay in college. It proves that development and institutional stability still hold sway over athletes.
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The sport is obsessed with the transfer portal and chasing the highest bidder. Smith is rejecting that mindset to focus on football. He knows the real money is waiting for him at the professional level.
The upcoming season offers him an opportunity to cement his status as the best receiver in college football. He left millions on the table to hang a championship banner inside Ohio Stadium. Now he gets to go out and earn it.
