Is Jeremiah Smith is the Best WR Prospect Since Julio Jones?
Jeremiah Smith has been in the football zeitgeist since he stepped foot on an Ohio State practice field for the first time. But is he worth the hype?
“I can’t go certain places by myself. When I do go out, I know I’m going to get bombarded with pictures and autographs. I just try to plan before I go out somewhere. I wear hats, beanies, anything to try to disguise who I am, but people still figure out it’s me. People follow me around. It’s pretty hectic, but I know it’s a blessing.” Jeremiah Smith doesn’t necessarily want public attention. People describe him as an old soul, and he considers himself a homebody. Unfortunately for the Ohio State standout, his play has earned him celebrity status in Columbus. He lost his black stripe, an Ohio State initiation ritual, after just four spring practices. He stepped onto the field as a freshman and gained more than 1,300 yards, scored 15 touchdowns, and was virtually inarguably considered the best player in college football as an 18-year-old. He nearly broke the school’s all-time receiving record in just two years; his 2,558 yards rank sixth heading into what many anticipate will be his final college football season. He sits just 310 yards short of the record, which should be shattered if Smith’s play continues without any development.
Smith has an opportunity to emerge out of the 2026 season as the greatest wide receiver NFL Draft prospect of all time. At the very least, he’s the best since Julio Jones. Here’s why.
Elite Play Strength
Many sophomore wideouts with Smith’s outstanding production win exclusively with route running, schematic preference, or speed. While Smith is no slouch in any of those areas, his strength stands out. His lower-body strength contributes to his elite balance, body control, and ability to burst out of cuts, but his upper-body strength helps keep corners off him. On Bruce Feldman’s 2025 Freaks List, Smith said he was most proud of his 20 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press. That strength is evident.
While elite athleticism doesn’t necessarily translate to an elite receiver, Smith’s lower-body explosiveness is awe-inspiring. Slowing him down once he’s running full speed is virtually impossible. Cornerbacks who chuck after sitting in off coverage rarely whiff as much as they do against Smith. An obstacle for 99.99% of wideouts is simply a minor inconvenience for the Ohio State star.
He’s an excellent blocker, too, with the desire to help his team in every way possible. His strength helps him hold blocks and seal edges, especially when he’s isolated to the play side, like in this clip.
Smith is one of the strongest wideouts we’ve seen, and that’s arguably not his greatest superpower.
