On Wednesday, Ohio State secured an official commitment from the country’s top-ranked player. Jeremiah Smith, a five-star wide receiver according to Rivals, reaffirmed his verbal commitment to the Buckeyes and declared his intention to sign with Ohio State on the first day that high school recruits could formalise their college choices.
Despite a delay in signing his letter of intent, Smith’s commitment became official Wednesday evening when Ohio State announced his inclusion in its recruiting class.
About Jeremiah Smith’s Recruitment
Hailing from Florida, Jeremiah Smith has maintained his verbal commitment to Ohio State since December 2022. Despite other schools attempting to sway his decision leading up to the early signing period, he has officially solidified his choice. Smith is poised to join the ranks of standout wide receivers at Ohio State, following in the footsteps of talents like Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who all made immediate impacts and later became first-round NFL Draft picks. Additionally, when and if he declares, Heisman finalist Marvin Harrison Jr. is anticipated to be a top-five pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Notably, Smith’s commitment coincided with Ohio State losing another talented prospect earlier in the day. Jeremiah McClellan, a four-star wide receiver and the No. 36 prospect nationally, declared his commitment to Oregon. This decision came after McClellan had been verbally committed to Ohio State for the past four months.
Smith’s Record
Smith stands out as one of the premier recruits in the nation, possibly even ranking as the top athlete in the country. In his senior season at No. 2 Chaminade-Madonna in Hollywood, Florida, he showcased a remarkable performance with 1,389 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns, catching 90 receptions.
Why This Signing Is Important?
The 2023 early signing period holds particular significance for Ohio State as the Buckeyes aim to reclaim the top spot in the Big Ten from Michigan. Michigan’s recent success, clinching the last three Big Ten titles with wins over Ohio State in the final week of the regular season, adds urgency to Ohio State’s recruiting efforts.
Presently, Ohio State boasts the No. 3 recruiting class in the nation, as per Rivals. Jeremiah Smith is among the three five-star recruits, alongside quarterback Air Noland and defensive end Eddrick Houston. Noland signed with Ohio State earlier in the day on Wednesday, and shortly thereafter, Houston made his commitment official. It’s worth noting that Houston had faced considerable interest from Alabama in his recruitment process.
Ryan Day Faints At The News!
On the inaugural day of the early signing period, Jeremiah Smith officially signed with Ohio State, ending weeks and months of speculation. Ohio State head coach Ryan Day took the opportunity to comment on the situation playfully. In the early afternoon on Wednesday, while Coach Day was addressing the media about the class of 2024, Smith signed with Ohio State. The media had the chance to witness Coach Day’s real-time reaction to the news. He acted as if he had fainted at the new signing news.
Ryan Day's in-time reaction when he found out Jeremiah Smith was signing with Ohio State.
— Jerod Smalley (@JerodNBC4) December 20, 2023
This is the visual definition of RELIEF.@nbc4i pic.twitter.com/0b5PFikxpT
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