Arthur Smith will have plenty of playmakers at his disposal in his first season in Columbus.
Although the 43-year-old has never been a full-time coach at the collegiate level – he was a graduate assistant at his alma mater, North Carolina, in 2006, and a defensive intern/administrative assistant at Ole Miss in 2010 – the former NFL head coach and offensive coordinator has plenty of experience.
Following Ohio State's hiring of Smith last weekend to be its offensive coordinator for the 2026 season, former Buckeye great Caleb Downs, who went against OSU's offense every day in practice the last two years, has some advice for Ohio State’s new offensive play caller: Get the ball to Jeremiah Smith.
What advice would Caleb Downs give new Ohio State OC Arthur Smith?
— Downs 2 Business (@downs2business) January 30, 2026
Easy: get the ball to Jeremiah Smith. pic.twitter.com/Oh6jox2lgQ
"Get the ball to 4," Caleb Downs said without any hesitation on the latest episode of the Downs 2 Business podcast. "How many ways can I get the ball to 4 and then use 4 to get other people open. Whether I'm motioning him, making (the defense) swing their coverage this way; I'm getting the ball to the guy over here, throw a screen over here. Do whatever. Just any way to make the defense adjust off of him because, at the end of the day, at least at the beginning of the season, every team is going to start off with the crowd to 4."
Ahead of what will very likely be his final season as a Buckeye in 2026, Jeremiah Smith has racked up 163 catches for 2,558 yards and 27 touchdowns to go along with nine carries for 68 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. This past season, the star totaled 87 receptions for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns, and added three carries for 21 yards and a touchdown on the ground as well.
Heading into 2026, Ohio State's offense will have plenty of experience returning. Julian Sayin and Bo Jackson return in OSU's backfield along with four of five starters on the offensive line, and Jeremiah Smith and Brandon Inniss at wide receiver. The Buckeyes also added former UTSA wideout Devin McCuin, former LSU receiver Kyle Parker and a four-man freshman class of wide receivers headlined by five-star Chris Henry Jr.
While OSU's coaching staff on offense might look different with the addition of Arthur Smith and wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton, who replaced Brian Hartline, it will still be Ryan Day’s offense with some new wrinkles. Ohio State’s experience should only help strengthen that side of the ball, and Downs agrees.
"You got a veteran quarterback now. You got a veteran O-line. You got a veteran running back now,” Downs said. “At the end of the day, you have the pieces, you just have to find a way to get the ball into people's hands in space.”
