Jeremiah Smith: the receiver Demanding Defensive Attention
COLUMBUS,Ohio – Julian Sayin has already played with an notable array of receivers in his career. The no. 1 quarterback prospect in the 2024 class was an elite prospect in California and is now delivering the ball to a deep Ohio State receiving corps that includes five-star recruits Carnell Tate, Brandon Inniss and Jeremiah Smith.
There’s still no one quite like Smith, who is regarded by many as the best player in college football. Sayin told The Athletic that he’s never seen a receiver demand the attention that Smith gets from opposing defenses.
“We have our read and it’s like, ‘OK you have to read this guy, but you never know, he might just go this way as Jeremiah is over there,'” Sayin said.”He demands so much from a coverage standpoint that we’re surprised when we do get one-on-one with him.”
smith, a 6-foot-3 sophomore, was the No. 1 player in the 2024 recruiting class and has matched the hype from Day 1. He tallied 25 touchdowns in his first 25 games,the fastest Ohio State player to that mark.
Smith had 1,315 yards, 15 touchdowns and the fourth-quarter reception that sealed the national championship for the Buckeyes as a freshman. and after his All-America debut, he’s drawn more attention than ever before. Still, Smith is sixth nationally with 862 receiving yards, and his 10 touchdowns are tied for second.He’s coming off a standout game against Purdue in which he caught a career-high 10 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown.
And his impact on No. 1 Ohio State’s offense goes far beyond the plays when he’s targeted.
More than a one-trick pony
No receiver has been more dominant over the past two seasons than Smith.
As arriving in college, he has tallied 2,177 yards and 25 touchdowns, leading the country in both stats in that span. He has caught 141 passes (with just three drops) and is averaging 15.4 yards per catch,and he’s doing it against a variety of coverages.
With his mix of size and speed, Smith is a mismatch against every type of man coverage, whether it’s Cover 0 with no safety help, 2-man with a deep safety over the top of him, or a double team. Teams don’t play much man against Ohio State because of it, but he’s tallied 109 yards, four touchdowns and 10 receptions on 16 targets against Cover 0, Cover 1 and 2-man, according to Pro Football Focus.
He also has a good feel for zone coverage. He knows how to sit in open windows so that his quarterbacks find him. He’s been nearly impossible to guard in Ohio State’s run-pass option game, making catches on the sideline with ease, and ohio State’s coaching staff has done a nice job scheming him open against zone, as well.
After taking some time to ease Sayin into the season, the entire playbook has opened up. And the explosive plays have followed.
Smith’s touchdown against Purdue, a 35-yard connection with Sayin, was an impressive one:
On this play, Purdue is playing Tampa 2, where the safeties play deep, covering the outside deep parts of the field. That coverage leaves a linebacker, or slot defensive back, to cover the deep middle of the field when he reads a pass.Purdue’s defender attempts to do that here, but even the jam on Smith, who lined up in the slot, at the 4-yard mark, doesn’t give him enough time to stay over the top of smith.
Smith gets upfield quickly, and once he has a step, Sayin places a perfect ball in his hands between the two safeties. Smith also had an 87-yard touchdown against Cover 2 versus Grambling, though that was a shot up the sideline.
Playing zone coverage can be a good way to prevent Ohio State’s passing attack from creating explosive plays, but it can also cause some confusion, as it did against Penn State.
Quarters is a version of Cove
Marvin Harrison Jr.’s Impact on Ohio State’s Offense Extends Beyond Catches
Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is a dominant force,but his influence on the Buckeyes’ offense goes far beyond his impressive reception numbers. Even when not directly involved in a play, Harrison Jr.’s presence considerably impacts opposing defenses,creating opportunities for his teammates and bolstering the run game.
Creating space for teammates
Ohio State has strategically utilized Harrison Jr. in the slot, targeting him on 43% of routes designed for that position. This creates a ripple effect, stretching defenses and opening up opportunities for other receivers. A prime example is Carnell Tate’s 44-yard touchdown reception against Minnesota. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-w-w-w-w](Example Link – Replace with actual video link) The play featured an orbit motion that drew the attention of four Minnesota defenders, including the deep safety, leaving Tate in a one-on-one situation – a matchup Ohio State consistently exploits.
Harrison Jr. himself recognized the defensive focus, stating after the game, “I just threw my hands up because I knew it was a touchdown. People put a lot of attention on me, but Carnell Tate is risky.” Tate currently ranks second nationally with eight receptions of 40+ yards, demonstrating his ability to capitalize on the space created by Harrison Jr.’s presence. While not possessing elite speed, Tate excels as a route runner with extraordinary hands.
These motions aren’t limited to benefiting Tate. Against Penn State, a tight end motion put Harrison Jr. in the slot, instantly drawing defensive attention. Penn State responded by bracketing Harrison Jr. with a linebacker underneath and a safety over the top, inadvertently creating an opening in the seam that quarterback will Sayin and receiver Jeremiah Inniss exploited.Sayin noted, “I think it just complements everyone and it makes our offense better.”
Influencing the Run Game
Harrison Jr.’s impact isn’t limited to the passing game. ohio State frequently utilizes him on the field even at the goal line, despite only being targeted five times inside the 10-yard line this season. His mere presence forces defenses to commit extra coverage, creating favorable run-blocking scenarios.
During the game against Purdue, the threat of a fade route or swift slant forced the Boilermakers to employ press coverage with a corner and an additional defender nearby. This created a numbers advantage for Ohio State on a 4-yard run by CJ Donaldson. The Buckeyes had eight blockers against nine Purdue defenders, nearly resulting in a touchdown. This is particularly crucial as Ohio state prefers not to run Sayin frequently, making creating numerical advantages crucial.
Offensive efficiency
Ohio State’s offense is currently ranked fourth nationally in points per drive, averaging 3.56. [https://www.espn.com/college-football/stats/efficiency](Example Link – Replace with current ESPN efficiency stats) this efficiency is fueled by Sayin’s exceptional accuracy (80.9%) and the undeniable talent of harrison Jr. His impact is pervasive, felt across the entire field, even when he isn’t the direct recipient of a pass.