Football <\/p>\n
Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has established himself as the most potent weapon in college football since his debut two seasons ago. Smith recently made national headlines by revealing he turned down a staggering $10 million NIL offer from an anonymous program to remain in Columbus. Entering his junior year, Smith remains the primary reason the Buckeyes are favorites for both the Big Ten title and the 2026 national championship.<\/p>\n
Smith is currently a frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy, looking to become the first wide receiver to win the award since DeVonta Smith in 2020. His presence has transformed Ryan Day\u2019s offense into a juggernaut, having posted a 90.9 rating in the PFSN College Football Offense Impact Metric during their 12-2 campaign last season.<\/p>\n
While speaking<\/a> to Big Ten Network\u2019s Michelle Steele during Ohio State\u2019s spring game on Saturday, April 18, former Buckeyes star Jaxon Smith-Njigba praised Smith\u2019s trajectory. Smith-Njigba, fresh off a Super Bowl LX victory with the Seattle Seahawks, noted that the young wideout is already surpassing the lofty standards set by his predecessors.<\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t say a mentor, but he knows anything he needs, he can always call me, text,\u201d Smith-Njigba said. \u201cWe definitely get together, talk some ball. I\u2019m just super proud of him and him pushing the bar even further than what we did. It\u2019s exciting times here. He\u2019s a winner and it\u2019s going to be great to see him flourish this year.\u201d<\/p>\n Smith-Njigba currently holds the Ohio State single-season records for receptions (95) and receiving yards (1,606). However, with Smith already tallying 2,558 career yards and 27 touchdowns in just two seasons, those benchmarks are well within reach for the junior in 2026.<\/p>\nFootball Ohio State Legend Reveals Smith\u2019s Frustration<\/h2>\n