Jeremiah Smith hasn’t yet played in a college football game — that comes Saturday afternoon against Akron at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS — but the Ohio State receiver is already being touted as a superstar heading into the season.
The freshman is making waves in ways no other player has in Ohio State’s storied history, both in weight room and on the practice fields. Crudely-filmed practice sessions on cell phones have set social media ablaze with his jaw-dropping catches against elite cornerbacks. In just a few short months, he became the first freshman in history to earn an “Iron Buckeye” designation in the weight room and the first newcomer this year to lose the “black stripe” on his helmet.
Save for those few moments when practice footage leaks, the public has not seen the tangible evidence, and though it’s quick to fall victim to cynicism and label the tales behind closed doors as fables, there is one constant: everyone contends he has lived up to the hype as the first receiver in 247Sports history to also rate as the nation’s No. 1 overall prospect.
“He’s a killer in every aspect of football,” said Buckeyes cornerback Denzel Burke, who was on the wrong end of several highlight catches.
“That kid is just special,” defensive lineman Jack Sawyer said. “I mean, that’s the only word I can use to describe him.”
Meanwhile, head coach Ryan Day tries to temper expectations when answering questions about the five-star freshman, even if the look on his face provides a much different answer. He hasn’t quite yet learned how to hide the Grinch-like grin that spreads across his lips whenever Smith’s name comes up in conversation.
“I’m trying not to go down the road too long with him,” said Day, who feigned fainting at the…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/we-are-all-witnesses-the-hype-is-real-as-jeremiah-smiths-historic-ohio-state-debut-awaits/
Author : Brandon Marcello
Publish date : 2024-08-28 18:25:55
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