OSU’s Jeremiah Smith Featured On Week 2 Of The Heisman Trophy Podcast

Ohio State sophomore wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is the featured guest on this week’s Official Heisman Trophy Podcast, released ahead of the Texas–Ohio State showdown in Columbus on Saturday. Hear the full conversation here. 

Episodes and clips of The Official Heisman Trophy Podcast are available on all major podcast networks, including Spotify and Apple, as well on YouTube and TikTok.

Jeremiah Smith’s story starts not with a highlight reel but with rejection. At just seven years old, the now-Buckeye wide receiver was cut from his youth football team. Instead of walking away, he doubled down.

“Me and my dad were working out two, three times a day,” Smith recalls. “It was tough, but that moment made me who I am today.”

That relentless drive has carried Smith to Columbus, where as a freshman in 2024 he delivered one of the most electric seasons in Buckeye history: 76 receptions, 1,315 yards, and 15 touchdowns. His spectacular one-handed grabs have already become part of Buckeye lore. But to Smith, it’s not luck. “I work on it all the time,” he says. “That’s why I’m confident in it.”

Growing up in South Florida, Smith knew as a middle schooler he had a unique skillset. “I was dominating games, and coaches told me I had what it took. That’s when I believed it,” he says.

Now, with Ohio State preparing for a massive clash against Texas this Saturday in Columbus, Smith once again finds himself at the center of the college football spotlight. Crowds mob him at malls, and the hype around his name grows weekly. Smith remains unfazed.

Said Smith: “I come from humble beginnings. That stuff doesn’t faze me. I just keep the main thing the main thing—football.”

This December, Smith could find himself in New York City not for a photoshoot—though he already did one with Travis Kelce for American Eagle—but for the Heisman Trophy Ceremony. He calls the prospect “a blessing.”

Despite his rise, Smith stays grounded. He spends free time gaming, calling family, and even playing chess online. And when asked how he wants to be remembered, his answer comes quickly: “As a role model. Someone kids can look up to.”

For Smith, the story is as much about character as it is about catches. And with the biggest stage in college football ahead, his next chapter is just beginning.