Following a quiet performance in Ohio State’s Cotton Bowl win over Texas, Jeremiah Smith repeated the same message multiple times during the Buckeyes’ national championship game media day in Atlanta:
“I can’t wait to put on a show.”
As he did before Ohio State faced Oregon in the Rose Bowl, Smith warned Notre Dame to “be ready” if the Irish lean on man-to-man defense against the Buckeyes. According to TruMedia, Notre Dame has run man on 57.6 percent of their opponents’ dropbacks this season, yet Smith said it feels more like 80 percent when he watches film.
“What (the Irish do) they do very, very well. For them to change up what they do would be kind of silly,” Brian Hartline told ESPN on Saturday. “They’re really, really good players, great players on the outside. And we have really great players on the outside, too. It’s what you want in a game of this magnitude.”
Smith relishes the opportunity for one-on-one matchups with Notre Dame’s cornerbacks, especially after how the Longhorns defended him in Dallas. Smith has collected 71 receptions for 1,227 yards and 14 touchdowns in 14 games. A decent portion of that production came against Tennessee and Oregon, as the freshman recorded a combined 13 catches for 290 yards and four scores. He was limited to one catch for 3 yards against Texas.
“You watch the film — they doubled me, tripled me,” Smith said of Texas. “It was frustrating, but being a decoy helped us win the game.”
Whether Notre Dame lets him run wild or keeps him in check, Smith doesn’t much care.
“All I want to do is win," he said.
Doing so would fulfill one of Smith’s childhood dreams.
“Just being a freshman, playing on a national stage and competing for a national title is something I dreamed of as a kid,” he said. “I’m just happy to be here. I can’t wait to put on a show Monday.”
