Ohio State freshman star and former No. 1 recruit Jeremiah Smith lands in national championship game

COLUMBUS, Ohio — When Ohio State faced Texas in the Cotton Bowl, Jeremiah Smith was expected to shine.

After all, he had piled up 290 yards receiving in two postseason wins and was looking like the star to stop for the rest of the College Football Playoff field. Instead, he was double-teamed by the Longhorns and limited to a single catch for three yards as Ohio State advanced to the national championship game against Notre Dame with a 28-14 victory.

The 6-foot-3 freshman is a big reason the Buckeyes are here. It may have been hard for many younger players to stay engaged in a game where his impact was limited. But Smith, 19, knew Texas’ focus on his play would help the rest of the offense.

“It’s frustrating but it’s part of being a teammate,” Smith said. “You got to open things up.”

Smith, the No. 1-ranked player in the 2024 recruiting class, amassed 1,227 yards and 14 touchdowns in his first season, breaking Cris Carter’s freshman school records for receiving yards, receptions and touchdowns as he was voted a second-team AP All-American.

The blanket coverage of Smith by Texas is a big reason why wide receiver Carnell Tate finished with a career-high seven catches for a team-high 87 yards, and Emeka Egbuka hauled in five for 51 yards.

“I know they will always do their part no matter if I’m double-teamed or not I know they’re always gonna be open and get the job done,” Smith said.

Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore and the Fighting Irish defense is preparing for Smith. Moore said he must trust his technique and training to compete with Smith.

“He’s definitely an elite receiver, of course,” Moore said. “He’s big, he’s physical, he’s good at attacking the ball in the air. So we just got to be as good and better at attacking the ball this week, so be ready to challenge him.”

Offensive…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/ohio-state-freshman-star-former-163139464.html

Author : NBC Sports

Publish date : 2025-01-17 16:31:00

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