RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesHeading into the 2026 college football season, Ohio Stat e wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has positioned himself as one of the biggest superstars in the sport.
Across his first two seasons in Columbus, Smith has hauled in 163 receptions for 2,558 yards and 27 touchdowns. Thanks to these incredible numbers, the Miami Gardens, Fla. native has racked up many awards and honors. A few of these include back-to-back First Team All-American, back-to-back Big Ten Receiver of the Year, and back-to-back First Team All-Big Ten.
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Smith, who is lauded as one of the top prospects in the 2027 NFL Draft, boasts an NIL Valuation of $5 million (per On3). That is tied for the fourth-highest valuation in college sports, alongside fellow Big Ten star Dante Moore . With these earnings, the receiver revealed that his first ‘big purchase’ was his grandmother’s house.
“I think I bought my grandma’s house,” Smith told Complex Sports , when asked about his first ever ‘big purchase’. “I bought my grandma’s house from her. Yeah. I bought this last year… I was 19 (years old).
There’s no doubt that the new era of college football, which allows star players to cash in on their marketability, has done more good than harm. Because of this ability to stack money in college, it allows younger players to be more financially responsible with their money once they sign pro contracts. In an interview with the NFL in May, Smith claimed that this will indeed help him when he turns pro.
“I think I’m gonna save it,” Smith said . “There’s no reason for me to spend it. I was blessed to come in the NIL era, spend whatever endorsements I get once I get to the NFL.”
Jeremiah Smith named Preseason Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year
Expectations for Jeremiah Smith heading into his third year are extremely high. On Monday, it was revealed that he was named Preseason Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. Ohio State was also picked as the preseason favorite to win the Big Ten Conference.
“Jeremiah’s a special talent,” NFL Draft analyst Jordan Reid said on an April episode of NFL Live . “We’ve seen it since he stepped foot in Columbus. And these teams have shown they’re not scared to take receivers in the Top 5. We saw Carnell Tate go with the No. 4 overall pick.
“ And I think of all the Ohio State wide receivers that we’ve seen go in the first round, Jeremiah is clearly more talented than all of them . You’re going to hear the comparisons like Julio Jones , like Andre Johnson when we’re comparing his playing style, who he translates to and how he could translate in the league.”
With Smith and quarterback Julian Sayin leading the way, the Buckeyes are seeking their second National Championship in three seasons under head coach Ryan Day .
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