Jeremiah Smith has collected his first accolade of the 2024 college football season.
On Monday, Smith earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors for his performance in Ohio State's win over Michigan State. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound rookie recorded six touches for 102 yards and two touchdowns in the contest.
Jeremiah Smith reels in his first weekly B1G honor
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) September 30, 2024
@ifs #PlayerOfTheWeek pic.twitter.com/100yPle4DT
According to Pro Football Focus, Smith recorded 57 snaps and ran 33 routes on Saturday. While Smith looked impressive in all of them, his most remarkable plays came in the second quarter when the freshman phenom hauled in two one-handed catches, the latter of which garnered attention from LeBron James, Paris Johnson Jr. and more on social media.
TWO UNBELIEVEABLE ONE-HANDED CATCHES BY JEREMIAH SMITH
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 29, 2024
THEY CAN'T GUARD HIM pic.twitter.com/vGUUs6rn41
Smith's first touchdown came earlier in the second quarter as he took a 19-yard end-around toward the Michigan State sideline, turned a corner at the line of scrimmage and burst into the end zone for his first rushing touchdown as a Buckeye.
Touchdown, @OhioStateFB
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 29, 2024
Jeremiah Smith has a TD in all 4 games so far as a freshman pic.twitter.com/IZ0TYEUf1n
When asked about Smith after the Michigan State game, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day praised the 18-year-old for his work ethic, discipline and humility and called him a "special young man."
“He just doesn’t say a word but works his tail off,” Day said. “His discipline. His humility. He loves being a Buckeye. You can just tell with the way he works with his teammates. He’s coming out of his shell a little bit, too, which is great to see. But, I mean, the talent speaks for itself. I am just impressed with the discipline and the hard work and being able to step in at such a young age. … This is a special young man.”
