The Ohio State Buckeyes will see their star wide receiver return to action this fall, and it's none other than Jeremiah Smith, who already knows what it's like to win a national title.
Even though the Buckeyes failed to get the job done and become a repeat champion last month, Smith's latest message should serve as an off-season reminder that the team is far from satisfied with just being in the College Football Playoff.
For the Buckeyes, winning it all is the only acceptable expectation.
“It’s going to be scary," Smith told "The Silver Bulletin." "I’m gonna be on go every game. I feel like this year they took something from me and everybody gotta pay for it. I’m out for everybody.”
Day has been highly complimentary of Smith throughout his career so far, making a bold proclamation last October about where he stands amongst the best players in college football.
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“I don’t think it’s even close that Jeremiah Smith is the best offensive player in college football,” Day told reporters after a 42-3 win vs. The Minnesota Golden Gophers. “If it’s close, I’d like to know who it is. But when you’re a receiver, it’s different than when you’re a quarterback. And coverage can dictate different things, but Jeremiah just keeps playing over and over again, has an unbelievable attitude.”
Day said the maturity in Smith is what truly stands out.
"All of these guys are very prideful, all of them want the ball, all of them have expectations,” Day said. “And to see the unselfishness each week of a bunch of guys that just want to win, like that’s winning football in a day and age that there’s a lot that’s going on.”
Entering the off-season, that same workhorse-type mindset will have to carry over to give the Buckeyes the best chance of success offensively.
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If so, Smith may just have one more good year left in him.
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