Jeremiah Smith is officially a Buckeye—and Ohio State fans couldn’t be more grateful. But not long ago, he had the entire fanbase holding its breath.
On the eve of the 2024 National Signing Day, Smith was the final player to submit his National Letter of Intent. It was late into the night when his decision finally came in, leaving Buckeye Nation in suspense until the very end.
A Florida native, Smith had serious interest from the Miami Hurricanes, who remained a contender deep into the recruiting process. In fact, on that very night, Smith had a lengthy conversation with former Miami quarterback Cam Ward. Ward made his pitch for The U, and for a moment, the possibility was very real.
“What went into me taking a long period to send my NLI in was paperwork—the business side of things,” Smith explained in an interview with On3. “That night, I definitely talked to Cam Ward. Thought about something, but…”
In the end, Smith chose Ohio State—but it turns out the decision was much closer than most fans ever realized.
But Smith ultimately chose Ohio State—and the rest is history. He helped lead the Buckeyes to a National Championship as a true freshman and now enters Year 2 with his sights set on doing it all over again.
Reflecting on that pivotal signing night, Smith revealed he hasn’t spoken to Cam Ward since their conversation. While he’s unsure if Ward was upset about his decision, Smith believes he could’ve made a title run at Miami too. Still, it’s clear he has no regrets.
Heading into this season, Smith returns as one of the premier wide receivers in college football—if not the best. His biggest competition? Likely Alabama sophomore standout Ryan Williams.
Smith’s freshman campaign was nothing short of spectacular: 1,315 receiving yards, 15 touchdowns, and an eye-popping 17.3 yards per catch. It was one of the most dominant performances in the country and set the stage for what could be an even bigger sophomore season.
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