Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was once again one of the most explosive offensive players in the country last season, despite the Buckeyes falling short in their national championship repeat bid after losses to Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game and Miami in the College Football Playoff. Going into his third season in college football, Smith is also once again one of the favorites to win the prestigious Heisman Trophy next season.
The Buckeyes’ wide receiver room will look different next season after losing the talented Carnell Tate to the draft process, leaving Smith as one of the senior-most members of coach Ryan Day’s offense.
Reporter Details Jeremiah Smith’s Offseason Transformation
On Thursday, The Lantern reporter Chase Brown posted a clip on X of Smith catching a ball during spring practice while lavishing praise on the wide receiver’s physical transformation during the offseason.
“Jeremiah Smith looks harder, better, faster, stronger entering year three with the Buckeyes,” Brown tweeted.
Jeremiah Smith looks harder, better, faster, stronger entering year three with the Buckeyes. pic.twitter.com/Govy336Zy1
— Chase Brown (@chaseabrown__) March 12, 2026
On Tuesday, a clip of a fired-up Day leveling a warning to his players about earning the right to wear the Ohio State jersey next season went viral, and Smith seems to have taken his coach’s words to heart with his performances during the Buckeyes’ spring training sessions so far.
Smith Sends Ominous Warning to Ohio State Opponents
Smith formed a devastating partnership with returning quarterback Julian Sayin last season, and the burgeoning partnership has led to the Buckeyes being one of the preseason favorites for the Big Ten and national championships next season.
The Buckeyes will face one of the most challenging schedules in college football next season, including road games against the Indiana Hoosiers, Iowa Hawkeyes, and USC Trojans.
They will also host the Oregon Ducks and rivals the Michigan Wolverines in Columbus to close out one of the most daunting conference schedules in the country, and will need Sayin and Smith to be at their very best from the start of the season.
In a clip promoting EA Sports College Football 26 on Jan. 29, Smith leveled a warning to the rest of college football about his focus and execution next season after the Buckeyes’ disappointing end to the 2025 campaign.
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“It’s going to be scary, I can say that,” Smith said. “Three years of college ball. Going into my junior year, I’m just going to be on go every game. I feel like this year they took something from me, and everybody’s gotta pay for it. That’s how I feel about my dream. I’m out for everybody.”
Smith tallied 1,243 receiving yards on 87 receptions with 12 touchdowns to earn a PFSN College Wide Receiver Impact score of 85.1 last season. In two seasons at Ohio State, the wide receiver has registered 2,558 yards on 163 catches with 27 touchdowns.
