ATLANTA (AP) — Pro Football Hall of Famer and Ohio State legend Cris Carter has bestowed extraordinary praise on Buckeyes freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, declaring him “the best player in the country” ahead of Monday’s national championship game against Notre Dame.
Smith, who shattered Carter’s 40-year-old freshman touchdown reception record this season, has emerged as a dominant force in college football. The freshman phenom needed just nine games to surpass Carter’s mark of eight touchdowns, eventually setting a new Big Ten freshman record with 14 touchdown receptions during Ohio State’s run to the national title game.
Speaking with CBS Sports in Atlanta, Carter compared Smith to NFL greats Julio Jones, Larry Fitzgerald, and Calvin Johnson, citing the freshman’s professional approach and work ethic. “He’s one of the first in the building at Ohio State. He’s one of the last ones to leave,” Carter noted, praising Smith’s humility despite his early success.
Smith, who made history as the first wide receiver ranked No. 1 overall in his recruiting class by 247Sports, has lived up to the considerable hype surrounding his arrival in Columbus. His impressive debut season included a streak of ten consecutive games with at least 50 receiving yards, demonstrating remarkable consistency rarely seen in a freshman player.
His playoff performance has been particularly noteworthy, though with varying results. Through the first two rounds, Smith amassed 13 receptions for 290 yards and four touchdowns. His standout moment came in the Rose Bowl victory over Oregon, where he set an Ohio State freshman record with 187 receiving yards in a single game. However, his production was somewhat limited in the Cotton Bowl semifinal win against Texas.
From his very first game in scarlet and gray, Smith showcased his potential, recording six catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns in his debut against Akron. This early success set the tone for what would become a record-breaking freshman campaign.
Carter, whose own legacy at Ohio State includes numerous receiving records, believes Smith’s ceiling is extraordinarily high. “He’s humble as can be and you can see that,” Carter said. “He has a professional mentality a lot like some of the other great receivers that we saw at a young age.”
The Hall of Famer particularly emphasized Smith’s technical skills and continued development throughout the season. “His releases, his route running, 50-50 balls — as we can see as the season’s gone on, he’s gotten better and he’s going to get a lot better before he gets drafted in the NFL in a couple years,” Carter observed.
Smith’s emergence continues Ohio State’s tradition of producing elite wide receiver talent. The program has recently sent several receivers to the NFL as first-round draft picks, including Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, and Marvin Harrison Jr. However, none of them achieved the level of freshman success that Smith has displayed this season.
As the Buckeyes prepare for their national championship showdown with Notre Dame, Smith’s record-breaking season stands as a testament to both his individual talent and Ohio State’s continuing legacy as a premier destination for wide receiver talent.