Over 20-touchdowns as a High School junior, a state champion for local powerhouse Chaminade-Madonna Prep, a superstar for South Florida Express 7on7, an early commitment to the Ohio State Buckeyes, top-five nationally ranked recruit in addition to being the number-one ranked wide receiver in the country for the class of 2024.
Quite an introduction of accolades for the local South Florida High School football star in Jeremiah Smith, to Ohio State Buckeyes fans and Miami Hurricanes fans it is no surprise. For Smith though, he doesn’t tend to like so much attention but he certainly appreciates every opportunity in front of him now.
“I really don’t like all of that attention, I’m more laid-back and I don’t get into all of that [recruiting rankings]. I feel blessed to have what I have though, being committed to Ohio State, and all of the offers. I’m humble, I don’t let it get to my head and to me I’m just like some guy who doesn’t have any offers so I don’t act big-headed, none of that, so I’m still the same guy as when I didn’t have any scholarship offers. Nothing has changed, I’m still humble and I am so grateful for everything I have,” said Smith.
On his commitment to Ohio State that took place on December 14th, 2022 and his relationship with wide receivers coach now turned offensive coordinator Brian Hartline [Former Miami Dolphins wide receiver: 2009-2014]. “Me and coach Hartline have a great relationship football wise yeah, but we talk about stuff outside of football. Everything from off the field, to how my family is doing and how I am doing in school so it’s not just about football but we talk about life,” said the six-foot-three wide receiver.
Smith sports just about every offer from top college football programs around the country, aside from the hometown Hurricanes and their pursuit in hopes of flipping a commitment from the five-star talent, “Florida, USC, Tennessee and Georgia are all pushing. USC has been telling me to come back out there and visit again, I went out there to visit last year in March and I loved it out there. Coach Simmons [USC outside wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator] is really a great guy,” said Smith.
Local South Florida coaches and Smith’s very own coaches from his 7on7 team in the South Florida Express have expressed to LifeWallet Sports News this, “JJ [Jeremiah] he is a different breed, he looks almost as if he was built in a lab. He really is the best wide receiver in the country and he comes out here and proves it every weekend. He has the ability, talent and work ethic to be one of the best wide receivers to come out of this area in years,” said a local source.
Spring practices are fast approaching and with the recruiting dead period lifting in March, the receiver does have plans set for one visit aside from mentioning potential visits to the Miami Hurricanes for their “Junior Day” on March 4th and the Florida Gators this spring. Smith went on to explain, “I’m going to Ohio State for their spring game but I don’t have too many other visits planned just yet.”
Despite Smith’s commitment to the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal and defensive analyst DeMarcus Van Dyke are leading the front on the recruiting efforts in hopes of flipping a commitment from the number-one receiver in the class of 2024. “They are not giving up, they are not going to give up until National Signing Day, they are pushing very hard for me and they are trying to flip me and I just listen until we see it happen,” said Smith.
What could it take for Miami to potentially secure a flip of Smith’s commitment to Ohio State in favor of the Hurricanes in the future? Well, Smith went on and elaborated what would have to happen and what he would like to see from Miami this upcoming season, to eventually reconsider his commitment with Ohio State.
“I just want them to win and to see a great offense too. A great offensive coach and a great receivers coach too, I mean it was coach Mario’s [Cristobal] first year and I feel like this upcoming year they will have a great year offensive wise. So I feel like they are going to get it right, they are going to get it right this year,” Smith said.
