At the 2025 Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day didn’t mince words when he addressed the rising buzz around freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. Clad in scarlet and gray, Day took the podium with an unmistakable gleam of pride as he delivered a statement that sent shockwaves through the college football world: “Jeremiah Smith is bigger, stronger, and faster than anyone expected. He’s not just ready—he’s ahead of schedule.”
The media room stirred. Coaches rarely heap such praise on true freshmen, especially at a program where legends are expected, not made overnight. But Smith isn’t ordinary. Standing 6’4”, 215 pounds, with sub-4.4 speed and hands like industrial magnets, he has turned spring practices and summer workouts into highlight reels. A freakish combination of Julio Jones’ frame and Marvin Harrison Jr.’s surgical route-running, Smith has been blowing past seasoned corners and making circus catches look routine.
Sources inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center describe Smith as a “once-in-a-decade” player, already developing chemistry with the quarterbacks vying to replace Kyle McCord. “Every time we scrimmage, it’s Jeremiah who takes the top off the defense. He’s not just winning routes—he’s dictating the coverage,” said a veteran defensive back on the condition of anonymity. “Coaches are double-bracketing him in practice. A freshman. That says everything.”
Yet, while the Buckeyes may have found their next superstar at wideout, the quarterback competition remains murky—intensely so. Ryan Day addressed it with a coach’s typical diplomacy: “It’s still a tight race. No one’s pulled away.” Behind the scenes, however, the battle between Devin Brown and Julian Sayin has become one of the fiercest in recent Ohio State memory. Brown, the more experienced option, has the arm talent and mobility, but Sayin—the freshman phenom from California—has the poise of a seasoned NFL backup.
Sayin has impressed coaches with his rapid understanding of the playbook and uncanny decision-making. “He’s processing at an elite level,” said quarterbacks coach Corey Dennis. “You don’t see that often from someone who should still be at prom.” But Brown isn’t backing down. He’s leaned into his leadership role, commanding huddles and pushing the tempo in every drill. Both quarterbacks have connected frequently with Smith, who remains neutral but clearly elevates any passer who targets him.
With the season opener against Texas looming, the Buckeyes face a rare luxury—and a major dilemma. Two capable quarterbacks. One generational wide receiver. And the weight of national championship expectations once again on their shoulders.
As Day left the podium, his final words lingered in the minds of every reporter in the room: “We have talent. Now it’s about execution. Jeremiah’s ready. The question is—who’s going to deliver him the football?”
One thing is clear: Whether it’s Brown or Sayin, whoever earns the starting job will be throwing to a player already being whispered about in Heisman circles—before he’s even played a snap.
