Freshman Wide Receiver Phenom Jeremiah Smith Catches First Two Career Touchdowns in First Half As a Buckeye

By Andy Anders on August 31, 2024 at 4:26 pm
Jeremiah Smith
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Jeremiah Smith wasted no time making a mark on Buckeye fans in his first games.

In the first quarter of the freshman's first game against Akron, he leaped into the air to win a 50/50 ball on a fade route to the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown reception, his first career scoring catch.

The toss was also the first touchdown as a Buckeye for Kansas State transfer quarterback Will Howard, a well-placed back-shoulder ball to allow Smith to make a play.

Smith's day didn't start as hot. He dropped his first career target on a tunnel screen, a play that seemed set up for a big gain if not a long touchdown. He answered with two catches on Ohio State's following drive, however, adding two more catches – both for third-down conversions – before his touchdown grab.

Smith didn't stop there. After collecting the Buckeyes' first touchdown of the afternoon, he burnt his defender on a slant route and hauled in another scoring grab, this time from 9 yards out.

And the hits kept coming. Smith got behind Akron's defense on a slot fade and hauled in a contested one-handed catch while falling to the Ohio Stadium turf.

Smith is up to six catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns midway through the third quarter of his Ohio State debut. 

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