Bold claim: Jeremiah Smith is redefining what it means to be Ohio State’s go-to receiver, and the numbers behind that statement prove it. This rewrite preserves the core facts while rewording for clarity and engagement.
Jeremiah Smith continues to etch his name deeper into Ohio State’s record books. Last season, he became the first Buckeye freshman to reach 1,000 receiving yards in a single year. In the 12th game of his sophomore season, Smith surpassed the 1,000-yard mark again, joining Marvin Harrison Jr. as the only two Ohio State players to post back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving campaigns. Teammate Emeka Egbuka, who caught passes for Smith in 2024 and for Harrison from 2021–2023, also achieved two career 1,000-yard seasons in 2022 and 2024.
A 52-yard reception in the second quarter of the Big Ten Championship Game against No. 2 Indiana pushed Smith over the threshold. That moment marks the 13th 1,000-yard receiving season in Ohio State history, eight of which have occurred over the last five years.
Ohio State’s 1,000-Yard Receivers
Player Year Games to Reach 1,000 Final Yards
CRIS CARTER 1986 12 1,127
TERRY GLENN 1995 8 1,411
DAVID BOSTON 1998 10 1,435
MICHAEL JENKINS 2002 13 1,076
PARRIS CAMPBELL 2018 14 1,063
JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA 2021 10 1,606
GARRETT WILSON 2021 12 1,058
MARVIN HARRISON JR. 2022 11 1,263
EMEKA EGBUKA 2022 12 1,151
MARVIN HARRISON JR. 2023 10 1,211
JEREMIAH SMITH 2024 13 1,315
EMEKA EGBUKA 2024 16 1,011
JEREMIAH SMITH 2025 12 TBD
Across 13 1,000-yard seasons in Ohio State history, nine came under the guidance of Brian Hartline as receivers coach. With Hartline now moving on to lead South Florida, the Buckeyes will bid farewell to a coach who helped shape this prolific era and leave behind a formidable legacy at the position.
Heading into Saturday’s game, Smith had accumulated 72 receptions for 942 yards and 11 touchdowns in the current season. His career totals—148 receptions for 2,257 yards and 26 touchdowns in under two seasons—illustrate how close he already sits to the program’s all-time marks. Excluding his current game against Indiana, he sits just 58 catches away from Ohio State’s career receptions record, 642 yards short of the receiving yardage record, and 10 receiving touchdowns shy of the program’s receiving touchdowns record.
With at least one more playoff run and another full season before entering the NFL draft, Smith is positioned to eclipse Ohio State’s all-time records and potentially become the program’s best receiver ever. His achievements have already earned him first-team All-Big Ten honors from both the conference coaches and media, along with a second consecutive Big Ten Receiver of the Year award.
Smith remains a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, which honors the nation’s top collegiate receiver. This recognition underscores that the conversation about his place in Ohio State lore—if not college football—has already begun. Would you side with those who view him as the pinnacle of Buckeye wide receivers, or see room for debate about how his legacy compares with past legends? Share your thoughts in the comments.
