Ryan Day confirms OSU sent apparent dirty tackle on Jeremiah Smith in for B1G review
Ryan Day confirmed during Tuesday’s weekly press conference that Ohio State submitted a questionable tackle on wide receiver Jeremiah Smith in last Saturday’s game to the Big Ten office for review.
The tackle occurred on the Buckeyes’ first drive after halftime of an eventual 31-7 victory over Northwestern at Wrigley Field. On a 3rd-and-5 play, Smith caught a pass over the middle and raced 68 yards. At the end of the play, things got messy, as Wildcats defensive back Robert Fitzgerald appeared to twist Smith’s ankle.
The freshman phenom came up limping and had the ankle taped up after the play, but Day said he won’t be limited this week as the Buckeyes get ready to host Indiana in a massive game with College Football Playoff implications galore. But just because everything appears OK with Smith’s ankle doesn’t mean Ohio State’s head coach wasn’t going to send the tackle in for review.
“Yeah, we did, we turned it in. And I think we’re waiting to hear back,” said Day.
Jeremiah Smith came up limping on this play, had to get his ankle taped up more.
He has since been limping on the sidelines, absolutely ridiculous that this kind of play would happen.
— Adam King (@AdamKing10TV) November 16, 2024
Despite it all, Smith still managed 4 catches for 100 yards against Northwestern, and on Tuesday he was named a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the nation’s best wide receiver.
Smith has shattered the Buckeyes’ record book this season, already setting OSU freshman receiver records with 49 catches for 865 yards and 9 touchdowns.