Skip to content

Ad Disclosure

Jeremiah Smith lands on marquee award watchlist ahead of freshman season at Ohio State

Paul Harvey

By Paul Harvey

Published:

Jeremiah Smith entered Ohio State with all the elite expectations that accompany a 5-star prospect and the No. 1 overall player in the 2024 recruiting class. So far, he’s passed every test, and Smith will be a name to watch for one major award.

On Wednesday, Smith was included on the preseason watchlist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year award. The award is named in honor of the former Alabama running back and annually recognizes the top freshman contributor in the country.

The honor was first awarded for the 2018 season with the honor going to Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Current Ohio State safety and former Alabama defender Caleb Downs was the winner of the award in 2023.

In order to be in the mix for the honor, freshmen must find the balance of immediate playing time and the ability to contribute early on. Smith has that in spades.

On Tuesday, head coach Ryan Day confirmed Smith would start Saturday’s season opener against Akron. Emeka Egbuka is the veteran leader in the wide receiver room, but Smith is poised to play an immediate role with a lack of overall experience in the group. Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss are other receivers expected to see extensive playing time early on.

Paul Harvey

Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.