Jeremiah Smith turned 50/50 balls into 80/20s or so last week. This week, he decided to put his elite speed and playmaking on display.
Smith caught what looked like a small chunk, a 5-yard hitch to get some yardage after a holding penalty backed the Buckeyes up to 1st-and-20.
Turns out all that flag did was make a 60-yard score a 70-yard jaunt. Smith took the hitch route, juked a Western Michigan safety out of his cleats and split a group of five other defenders to dash all the way to the end zone.
JEREMIAH SMITH HIT THE JETS FOR THE TD @ohiostatefb pic.twitter.com/TQ73HEfor6
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 8, 2024
With his three receiving touchdowns two games into his collegiate career, Smith is already tied for the fifth-most by an Ohio State freshman in a season with Chris Olave and Marvin Harrison Jr. The 70-yard jaunt is tied for the longest receiving touchdown by a freshman in school history, joining a 70-yard score from Carlos Snow against Michigan in 1987.
In the first quarter alone against the Broncos, Smith racked up three receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown.
