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.
This was...
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) August 31, 2024
Ohio State's first touchdown of the 2024 season
Will Howard's first touchdown for Ohio State
Jeremiah Smiths first touchdown for Ohio Statepic.twitter.com/2dMO2iF2MV
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.
Heres Jeremiah Smiths first career catch at Ohio State pic.twitter.com/qtUTj5apeu
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) August 31, 2024
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.
Jeremiah Smith cannot be stopped pic.twitter.com/Qd5gxG1fD2
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) August 31, 2024
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.
Wait, Jeremiah Smith is goated. pic.twitter.com/9ZZ3CDXPtc
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) August 31, 2024
Smith is up to six catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns midway through the third quarter of his Ohio State debut.
