Jeremiah Smith early scouting report, ahead of the 2026 season. A detailed study of the talented Ohio State wide receiver. Smith is finally draft-eligible in the 2027 NFL draft, does the tape match the consensus opinion that he’s an elite prospect?
Jeremiah Smith Early Scouting Report
When Emeka Egbuka (first round, 2025 Draft) and Carnell Tate (fourth overall pick, 2026 Draft) were scouted, it was clear they weren’t the number one receiver for the Buckeyes. Jeremiah Smith was the standout even as a true freshman in 2024, and that continued in 2025. With two 1,000+ yard seasons to his name and multiple highlight reel catches, he will be draft eligible for the 2027 NFL Draft.
Measureables
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 223 lbs
Statistics
2024 (true freshman): 76 catches for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns.
2025 (true sophomore): 87 catches for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns.
The Tape
Games Watched: at Washington, vs Penn State, and vs Miami (CFB Playoff Quarterfinal)
Strengths
The first thing that stands out with Smith is his solid frame. He’s very well built. Put that together with his outstanding speed, and he jumps off the tape. The size/speed combination is rare. He’s an explosive athlete, but he is also a smooth and fluid mover.
Smith lines up all over the formation and looks equally comfortable at “X”, “Z”, and in the slot. He’s a matchup nightmare for defenses.
Smith’s route tree is wide, and his route running is excellent. He’s a genuine deep threat, but can also separate on comeback routes and is very dangerous on crossing routes. His ability to cut sharply at full speed makes him very difficult to cover. He also has an excellent stop-go move in his bag of tricks.
On crossing routes, he’ll get inside his man at the line, but will then make a second, more subtle cut at full speed, which gives him separation. Then the speed after the catch can take over.
Smith’s hands are soft, yet strong. He catches the ball away from his frame. Many receivers will slow in order to secure a catch and transition to running after the catch, but with Smith, it’s all in one smooth motion.
On the odd occasion where he doesn’t separate or is in a crowd, he’s a master of the contested catch. His strength is also evident after the catch, where he can break tackles. Even on all-22 tape, you can see the positive energy he brings to his team.
Smith is very difficult to cover. He eats up off coverage with sharp out and comeback routes. If you try to press him at the line, he uses his elite quickness and strength to win and stack his man. A double team is the only answer, but even that doesn’t mean you can keep him quiet.
Single coverage not working for you against Jeremiah Smith? Time to double team him. Bottom of the screen – out ran the safety who needed greater depth. #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/5JDJCRCS3J
— Paul Emery (@UKDraftFan) May 17, 2026
Areas to Improve
The main area for Smith to improve is his blocking. He can get the job done, but the “want to” isn’t always there. At times, he’ll have a little hop step at the line, so his initial punch lacks energy. He has the tools to be a great blocker, but NFL teams will want to see this area of his game improve.
The only real negative with Jeremiah Smith's game is that he's not the best blocker. Here, slot left (closest to line) with a whiff on Keionte Scott who was just more aggressive on the play. #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/9Bhea3DXrM
— Paul Emery (@UKDraftFan) May 17, 2026
On some sideline routes, Smith doesn’t give himself enough space and can get knocked out of bounds or run out of room. This is partly schematic.
Smith dealt with a quad injury last year. Any similar injuries in 2026 may mean NFL teams have some concern, which would be investigated at the NFL Combine.
Key Matchups in 2026
Smith’s first big test in 2026 will come in Austin against Texas in week two. There are two potential banana skin games (Illinois and on the road at Iowa) before a second huge road test at Indiana in week seven. After a bye week, there are two further tough games at Southern California and hosting Oregon. As always, the final regular-season game against Michigan is sure to be tough.
The full Ohio State schedule can be found here.
Jeremiah Smith Early Scouting Report Summary
Smith is an elite talent who could play in the NFL right now. He has to wait until he’s three years removed from high school, so Buckeyes fans should enjoy him while they can. Smith should be a very high pick and potentially number one overall.
Main Photo: [Jerome Miron] – Imagn Images