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Jeremiah Smith identifies where he can improve in 2026
By David Wasson
Published:
Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith is as close to a can’t-miss NFL prospect as it gets heading into the 2026 college football season. But that doesn’t mean he can’t identify portions of his game that need improvement.
Speaking on the Cover3 Podcast with host Bud Elliott, Smith was asked about how he would self-critique his film from the 2025 Buckeyes campaign that saw him rack up 87 receptions for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns.
“Great question. I would say top of the route, getting in and out of breaks. Curls, hooks, things like that. And then YAC (yards after catch) is the biggest thing – I think I was the worst in the country with that,” Smith said. “I think, as a wide receiver group, we were the worst in the country at that.”
Smith is being exceedingly hard on himself, as he totaled 378 yards after catches in 2025 – which placed him in the 92nd percentile in the country according to PFF. The Buckeyes as a whole also finished the regular season ranked 1st in the FBS in team passing offense efficiency metrics.
Ohio State begins the 2025 season at home Sept. 5 against Ball State (12:30 pm ET, Big Ten network) and travels to Austin to take on Texas on Sept. 12 (7:30 pm ET, ABC).
An APSE national award-winning writer and page designer, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.