Jeremiah Smith signs with Ohio State: No. 1 player holds firm on National Signing Day despite late Miami push

Five-star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has submitted his National Letter of Intent to the Buckeyes, the school announced Wednesday night. Smith reaffirmed his commitment to the Buckeyes in a ceremony earlier in the day, but Ohio State coach Ryan Day was informed that the team had not received his NLI as of the team’s press conference in the afternoon. After a few uncomfortable hours for Buckeyes fans, the team ended speculation on the matter with a social media announcement shortly after 10 p.m. ET. 

Smith, the first receiver ever ranked as the No. 1 player in the 247Sports recruiting rankings, first committed to Buckeyes in December 2022 but was doggedly pursued by others while cementing himself as a rare talent. 

Smith finished his high school career at powerhouse Chaminade-Madonna Prep in South Florida with over 3,000 yards receiving. As a senior, he caught 88 passes for 1,376 yards, leading his team to a 14-0 record. Amid that prolific production, Miami, Florida State and Florida stayed in hot pursuit of Smith leading up to the early signing period.

Florida State and Florida each had in-home visits with Smith this month, and Smith has close ties with several players who are committed to Miami, who made a strong push until the very end. Ultimately, he remained loyal to the Buckeyes, who continue to stand out as a destination for elite wide receiver prospects. 

Jeremiah Smith’s game

As the cousin of former star West Virginia quarterback and current Seattle Seahawks star Geno Smith, Ohio State’s newest prize comes from an athletic pedigree. He began shining for Chaminade-Madonna Prep as a sophomore, and also starred in track during his high school career. Here is more on his game from 247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins:

An…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/jeremiah-smith-signs-with-ohio-state-no-1-player-holds-firm-on-national-signing-day-despite-late-miami-push/

Author : David Cobb

Publish date : 2023-12-21 03:33:50

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