COLUMBUS, Ohio — As Jeremiah Smith prepares to take the field at AT&T Stadium for Ohio State”s College Football Playoff clash with Miami, he brings with him two formidable advantages: complete health and a strong desire to excel. During a recent media session, the Buckeyes” star receiver confirmed that he has fully recovered from a quad injury that had affected his performance in the latter part of the season, an ailment that had generated speculation but was only recently verified.
“I don”t know, Gillis, what”s scarier, the fact that Jeremiah Smith is healthy or the fact that he”s angry?” asked Stephen Means during a discussion on the Buckeye Talk podcast, emphasizing the dual threat Smith poses to the Hurricanes. Despite the injury, Smith still managed an impressive stat line in the Big Ten Championship, recording eight receptions for 144 yards. However, he assured fans that he is now at 100% heading into the playoffs.
The podcast crew debated which version of Smith is more dangerous: the physically unencumbered athlete or the one fueled by emotion. Means argued, “I think the angry part is more scary for me because one of them he was going to get healthy, right? Nobody”s body stays broken forever. The anger is man-made, right? So, it”s just like, “Oh, just wait till I get healthy.””
This anger is spurred by several factors: Ohio State”s defeat in the Big Ten Championship, being overlooked for the Biletnikoff Award as the nation”s top receiver, and the opportunity to showcase his skills against his hometown team, filled with players he knows well. Smith has a history of bouncing back with strong performances after setbacks. After Ohio State”s losses last season, he delivered notable showings, including three catches for 70 yards and a touchdown against Nebraska and six receptions for 103 yards and two touchdowns against Tennessee.
Contrasting this viewpoint, Stefan Krajisnik suggested that Smith”s physical health might be the more vital aspect: “Originally you see the match if you”re like, “Oh, they”re about to face a motivated JJ.” It”s like, I don”t know what if they just have to face a healthy JJ. Like maybe the motivation part doesn”t really matter that much.” This suggests that when Smith is injury-free, his inherent talent might be sufficient to dominate, irrespective of his emotional state.
What makes Smith especially dangerous is that Miami will encounter both versions of him. A physically fit Smith, capable of unleashing his extraordinary athleticism, combined with a chip-on-his-shoulder mentality, creates a challenging matchup for the Hurricanes. Known for his confidence, Smith once boldly claimed he considers himself open even when covered by an entire defense. This combination of physical readiness and emotional motivation might create the ideal scenario heading into the most crucial game of his collegiate career. As Ohio State fans have witnessed, an angry Jeremiah Smith typically leads to remarkable outcomes. Now that he is healthy, the challenge for the Hurricanes” defense will be significant when they line up against him on New Year”s Eve.
For more insights, check out this week”s podcast covering the latest on the Buckeyes, including updates on Brian Hartline and Jeremiah Smith, as well as Ohio State”s offensive strategy for facing Miami. Additionally, Ohio State is making adjustments along the offensive line for the playoff, and discussions are underway regarding whether Julian Sayin can apply lessons learned from Will Howard. Furthermore, a former Ohio State quarterback has entered the transfer portal once more, adding to the dynamic landscape of Buckeye football.
