‘Developed different,’ Smith stars in Buckeyes debut

• Jake Trotter, ESPN Senior Citizen WriterAug 31, 2024, 09:29 PM ET

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  Jake Trotter covers college football for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2011. Before that, he worked at The Oklahoman, Austin American-Statesman and Middletown (Ohio) Journal papers. You can follow him @Jake_Trotter.

COLUMBUS, Ohio– Jeremiah Smith lived up to all the buzz in his Ohio State debut.And the offense

finally got rolling after a sluggish start in organizer Chip Kelly’s very first game with the Buckeyes calling plays.Smith, the No. 4 general recruit in the 2024 ESPN 300 and the second-ranked wideout, scored both of Ohio State’s goals in the very first half and propelled the second-ranked Buckeyes to a 52-6 victory over Akron in Saturday’s season opener.”Sometimes you take a look at him, you do

n’t even believe he’s quite human,”Ohio State coach Ryan Day stated.” He’s built different. “After just one game, Smith

already appears to be the next in a budding line of prolific Buckeyes receivers.Over the past 3 years alone, Garrett Wilson, Chris

Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Marvin Harrison Jr. all became first-round picks. Ohio State likewise boasts preseason All-American Emeka Egbuka, another forecasted first-round choice in 2025 who opened his senior season with four catches.Smith, however, took the program, becoming the very first Ohio State freshman in 26 lawns to debut with two goal receptions. He completed with six catches for 92 yards.”I understand all the buzz around me was insane can be found in,”he said.” I simply wished to can be found in and be a guy, simply work and not

just have to do with hype.”In spite of the hype, Smith stated he didn’t feel any pressure going into Saturday. Still, he got off to a jittery start.On Ohio

State’s very first belongings, he let a screen pass ricochet off his chest, with space to run in front of him.

As a result, the Buckeyes had to punt after three plays. “I’m grateful it happened, “Smith said, noting he was “relieved “to get the very first leave of the method.

“[ The group] just told me,’ Cool down, you’re excellent. Carry on to the next play.’ “Smith moved on– and also took control of the game.On the ensuing drive, he hauled in a set of third-down passes for first downs. Then, on yet another third down, Smith shook

his guy near the front pylon for a 16-yard scoring reception to offer the Buckeyes their first lead of the day.Editor’s Picks 2 Related”If you get him in one-on-one protection, he’s going to win, “quarterback Will Howard, a transfer from Kansas State who also had a sharp Ohio State debut with 228 passing yards, stated.

“All I’ve got to do is simply give him a possibility and he’s going to do the rest.”Howard kept going Smith’s way.In the second quarter, he connected with Smith on a slant route for a 9-yard goal. With that, Smith ended up being the very first Buckeye given that Ted Ginn Jr. in 2006 to score 2 getting touchdowns in the very first half of

an opener, according to ESPN Stats & Info research.Then on Ohio State’s 2nd play of the second half, Howard found Smith in individually protection once again. Smith beat his guy down the sidelines before snagging the pass with one hand as he slid down to the Akron 1-yard line.

The 45-yard reception established Quinshon Judkins ‘scoring plunge on the next play, putting the Buckeyes in command, 24-3. Ohio State added touchdowns on its next two offending drives.This offseason, Day gave up playcalling responsibilities to Kelly, who left his head-coaching task at UCLA to sign up with the Buckeyes. Day, a former quarterback, bet Kelly at New Hampshire and later on coached with him there. The 2 both grew up in Manchester, New Hampshire.On Saturday, Kelly,

the previous head coach at Oregon, the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers, produced a client but balanced attack, as the Buckeyes threw for 234 yards and rushed for 170, while balancing 5.2 backyards per bring.”I believed Chip did a good job, continuously pushing the run. You might see that start to

take its result in the second half, “Day said.”I thought Chip called an excellent game. I truly do. He knows what he wants to get done with this team. He wishes to develop this run which indicates maybe that’s not scoring 70 or whatever, but we need

to develop the run late in the season.” The Buckeyes showed they’ll be able to beat groups through the air, however, too, especially with Smith matching Ohio State’s other weapons.Until Smith’s performance, Michael Wiley was the last Ohio State freshman to launching with two goal catches. But Wiley’s two ratings was available in the second half of a 70-7 thrashing of Rice in 1996.”

Jeremiah, he’s a guy, male,”Howard said.”This is simply the start for him. I’m delighted to see how this season chooses him. He’s an extraordinary player. “