Jeremiah Smith was already in the Ohio State record books. Now he’s in the Big Ten record books, too.
The Buckeyes’ sensational receiver set a single-season conference record for most touchdown receptions by a freshman, hauling in a catch from Will Howard and carrying it 45 yards to the house on Ohio State’s first possession against Oregon in the Rose Bowl.
That was Smith’s 13th touchdown of the season. He added another in the second quarter when he broke off a 43-yard TD that put the Buccaneers up 24-0 over the Ducks. The previous Big Ten record was held by Purdue’s Rondale Moore, who had 12 touchdown catches in 2018.
Smith tied the record in Ohio State’s first-round College Football Playoff game against Tennessee. The 19-year-old had six catches for 103 yards and two touchdowns for the Volunteers.
He continued his good CFP performance with a monster game against Oregon in the quarterfinal matchup. With seven catches for 187 yards and two touchdowns, Smith was named the Rose Bowl Offensive MVP after Ohio State’s 41-21 win.
So far this season, Smith has registered 70 receptions for 1,224 yards and 14 touchdown receptions, all Ohio State freshman records, surpassing the numbers set by Chris Carter in 1984. down, including a 5-yard run against the Ducks.
He’ll get a chance to add to those numbers in the CFP semifinals, when Ohio State takes on Texas in the Cotton Bowl.
After arriving at Ohio State with a bang, the nation’s No. 1 recruit has lived up to the hype.
“He’s probably going to be the best receiver to get here,” Buckeyes quarterback Denzel Burke said a week before the Rose Bowl. “He’s already close, he’s very happy with him.”
Burke is qualified to offer his opinion, having played and practiced against the Buckeyes’ recent crop of first-round NFL receivers. Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Marvin Harrison Jr. all have been selected in the top 20 in the past three drafts, and senior Emeka Egbuka could join them this spring.
“I’ve seen a lot of good receivers,” Burke said. “I’ve seen Garrett. I’ve seen Jaxon, I’ve seen Chris. I’ve seen Marvin Harrison – he was my class, too. So just being able to see that and being able to see those qualities in him. But he’s Jeremiah. Smith is a completely different person, so that’s great.”
Now, Smith stands alone in Big Ten history.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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