Jeremiah Smith Recruiting Profile
Jeremiah Smith, the best player from the 2024 recruiting class. He is earning that distinction each time Smith steps onto a football field.
Jeremiah Smith
Jeremiah Smith
Size: 6-foot-3, 210 pounds
Position: Wide Receiver
High School: Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna
Recruitment
Committed to Ohio State on Dec. 14, 2022. Smith is still going through the recruiting process, however. Beyond the Buckeyes, he’s still mulling over options with Florida, Florida State and Miami.
His recruitment will continue until he signs on Dec. 20, 2023, the first National Signing Day.
Frame
Continues to add muscle definition and fill out with good weight. At under 200 pounds in 2022, Smith looks like a NFL player right now at 210 pounds. His arm length, in particular, provides “JJ” with a tremendous advantage over defenders.
Athleticism
Despite his long legs, Smith bends and changes direction with exceptional fluidity. First-step burst is also top-notch. His deep-ball speed is not often an area that defensive backs match.
Perhaps Smith’s best physical attribute would be his ability to quickly decelerate, allowing him to catch back-shoulder fades and any other route that turns and heads back towards the line of scrimmage. That same attribute helps Smith make defenders miss in space as well.
Then again, perhaps Smith’s leaping ability would be his top physical skill. Regardless of what is his best athletic category, Smith’s all-around physical traits are spectacular.
Professional Mindset
This is where Smith separates himself from other high school football players.
No matter where Smith is preparing to play, his pregame warmup routine and all the way through to the end of the game, operates differently. He’s the definition of staying on task and taking everything he does seriously.
During the seven-on-seven season, just watching Smith go through a long stretching session gives one a clue that he takes nothing lightly. Headphones on, not caring one bit that the cameras are rolling, Smith often goes off to the side and continues to warm up. It's like he cannot even see the people around him.
On game day, Smith’s routine is still about mental focus. He does not pay attention to other players that talk trash. Smith plays his game and allows the catches, yards and touchdowns do the talking. These are the traits that allow this humble young man to maximize his football talent. Then there are his wide receiver skills to discuss.
Polish
Smith enjoys learning the game. For people that see him on a regular basis, it’s obvious how his wide receiver skills continue to improve. The route running, timing with his footwork, and how and when to reach for the football, all of them are excellent for a prep player, among others.
Smith is probably more advanced than some college receivers, honestly. He takes pride in getting off of bump coverage, finetuning catching passes over his shoulder just like he would snag a throw that’s towards the middle of his chest, and maximizes big play chances with all-out effort, i.e. speed, power, and moves.
Combining all of his physical traits with his refinement, there is not another prep football player in the country with Smith’s total package.
Unique Trait
Smith is not a talker. He does, however, hear what other players are saying. Hint to future opponents: Do not poke the bear! That does not tend to end well.
When it’s go-time, everyone in the stadium will likely know he’s likely to get a pass thrown his way, but now can someone stop it? Smith makes outstanding catches look rather easy during those moments. Those of us in the media sometimes even take it for granted.
Long-Term Projection
NFL top five selection and long-time pro player.
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