The nexus between a quarterback and a wide receiver is sacred. One needs the other to thrive. Their bond is perpetually reciprocal—the more one side sows, the more the other side reaps. Ryan Day and Ohio State, en route to a national title, have been fortunate to have such a tandem at their disposal. The Buckeyes’ receiving corp. was the key to the operation. It has lost Emeka Egbuka’s services to the pros and a shoutout to the underappreciated Carnell Tate. But the crown jewel, still intact, was irrefutably true freshman Jeremiah Smith. Who was perhaps his favorite, and certainly the best, receiver Will Howard has ever thrown to?
Will Howard’s tryst with fate is complete. Picture swinging for the fences on two strikes at the bottom of the 9th and hitting a home run. Howard had one last shot when he left Kansas State and entered the transfer portal. As often as this cliché gets thrown around, this season was truly make or break for Will Howard’s career. Getting to Columbus to play for the blueblood Ohio State Buckeyes was a good omen, but boy, did he make the most of it. During the CFP, he found new gear. Airing that pigskin at an unprecedented clip. Will Howard showed poise in the biggest spots, including some crucial 3rd and 4th downs. The very last throw in the Natty was a microcosm of his performances throughout. A 56-yard bomb downfield, aptly collected by who else but Jeremiah Smith.
The synergy between the pair was intrinsic yet box-office at the same time. Naturally, there remains a bond even though the two have diverged their separate paths. Smith remains in Columbus, while Howard ascends to the NFL. But what they achieved together shall live on in folklore. So when Jeremiah Smith took to Instagram and posted a mixtape/montage of his freshman year, Will Howard was quick to show love. After all, it’s indirectly a highlight reel of his own quarterbacking, too!
Howard relayed what is a very well-made montage of Smith onto his own IG stories. “Way too hard 4 @primetimejj_.4” he wrote alongside. 4, of course, signifying Smith’s steadily turning iconic jersey number. Prior to this gesture, Howard even commented under the original post. Under there, he said, “Destined for MORE than greatness 4️⃣” Touche, Will. The guy really is. This double reiteration of fondness goes to show how closely-knit the two remain. Or maybe Jeremiah’s game is just that infectious. So much so that even a Penn State alum has laid some rather hyperbolic praise at his feet.
Former tight-end turned analyst Adam Breneman summarized Jeremiah Smith’s brilliance on IG himself. “Jeremiah Smith didn’t just live up to the hype—he blew it away.” That may not seem polarizing or hyperbolic. However, Breneman accompanied this with a graphic reading GOAT. No hesitation whatsoever. Speaking of GOATs, this segues into Smith being touted for a change to NCAA eligibility rules. Akin to a certain LeBron James a little over 20 years ago.
Jeremiah Smith is deemed good enough to validate a probe in the NCAA rulebook
Jeremiah Smith is a rule-breaker who’s thwarting all sorts of conventions and norms. This has led to a fascinating premise already regarding his future in the NFL. Which by all accords, is only a matter of when, not if. The premise is founded on the basis that If Jeremiah is clearly someone who can skip the line and move ahead to the pros already, should it be facilitated? Not just for his own sake but for that of the cornerbacks tasked with containing this monster. Smith’s already a national champ and broke every freshman receiving record at Bluebloods Ohio State. There’s not much else to achieve in CFB than bide time. Which, as aforementioned, is why there’s a member of the media endorsing him to repeat what LeBron James, ironically a Buckeyes fan, did.
Over the College Football Addiction YouTube channel, host TJ Pittinger said, “It’s almost unfair that [Jeremiah Smith] has to play two more years in college football. Not only to him but to the rest of the Big 10, the rest of college football.” The rules dictate he has to wait a minimum of 3 years after graduating high school before he can turn pro. It’s not even far-fetched to suggest that if Smith continues to improve, he could turn CFB into a 1-team, uncompetitive sport over the next couple of years. “I’ve never really thought much about the NFL changing that rule. If there was ever a player to change it for, it would be him. He would be the first wide receiver taken this year! There’s no question about that!” he proceeded.
Ever so often, a generational athlete comes along and shifts the paradigm. Over 2 decades ago, LeBron James signaled the end of players jumping into the NBA right from high school. Go beyond that, and Kareem Abdul Jabbar caused the NCAA to impose a rule against dunking in college basketball that lasted for 10 years. It’ll seem hyperbolic to compare teenager Jeremiah Smith to these GOATs at this juncture. But he’s trending in that direction. Additionally, a receiver’s career isn’t the longest. So if Jeremiah Smith got the opportunity, he could maximize his window by spending the extra couple of years in the NFL.
It’s not going to happen right away, and Jeremiah will see out his sophomore and junior years at Columbus in all likelihood. However, it’s food for thought for the powers that be. Jeremiah Smith could act as a trailblazer for those to follow. You never know. Maybe he will link up with Will Howard again one day.
The post Will Howard Sends Strong 4-Word Message to Jeremiah Smith as 19-YO’s Hypetrain Already Demands NCAA Rule Changes appeared first on EssentiallySports.
