Jeremiah Smith had 10 million reasons to leave Ohio State this offseason. He only needed one to remain in Columbus: He loves being a Buckeye.
In an interview with On3’s Chris Low this week, the star wide receiver said he could have made a significant amount of money had he entered the transfer portal — well into eight figures.
“Over 10 million dollars, easy,” Smith said. “But that’s not how I operate.”
Smith operates as he always has: with loyalty to his coaches and teammates, and a desire to leave a lasting legacy wherever he plays.
At a press conference last month, Smith hinted that Miami was among the programs attempting to lure him away from Columbus. His hometown Hurricanes weren’t alone. In fact, Miami was one of several schools that reached out to Smith’s agent after he helped lead Ohio State to a national championship in 2024.
“No reason to go back home, not when I’m at the best place in the country,” Smith said. “I came to Ohio State for a reason, to win championships, develop as a player and a person and keep building on this legacy.
“I might have grown up in South Florida, but I’m a Buckeye. That’s not changing. I wasn’t going anywhere.”
According to Smith, both the volume and value of those offers surged following his sophomore season, when he recorded 87 catches for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns as Ohio State went 12-2, falling to national champion Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game and national runner-up Miami in the Cotton Bowl.
“Just because they beat us and things went their way, I wasn’t going back home,” Smith said. “I mean, you hear the numbers and everything. But to be honest, it didn’t make sense for me to go back. I have a good quarterback here. I have a good group of teammates here. A lot of people came back, so it would look stupid for me to go there, and we have a team here that’s already built.”
“I came to Ohio State for a reason, to win championships, develop as a player and a person and keep building on this legacy... I might have grown up in South Florida, but I’m a Buckeye. That’s not changing. I wasn’t going anywhere.”– Jeremiah Smith
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day told Low he maintained frequent communication with Smith, his family and his agent early in the offseason. With each conversation, Day grew more confident the standout receiver had no intention of leaving.
“He thinks big. He understands what this place is and what comes with it,” Day said. “His family is great, and I think there’s a lot of trust there from when he was recruited to where we are now. Everything we said we were going to do, we did. That’s important when you’re dealing with people who value relationships. If it’s just about money, then when more money comes in, guess what’s going to happen? They’re going to walk out the door.
“Jeremiah’s family values relationships, and they knew it wasn’t just about him on the field. There’s a lot that comes with being an elite athlete, and I really feel strongly that we major in developing the elite athlete at Ohio State, not just on the field.”
Smith’s NIL valuation at Rivals and On3 currently sits at $4.2 million, though that figure likely lags behind his true market value as his portfolio of partnerships continues to grow.
His latest promotion came in collaboration with Battle Sports, where Smith appeared in a “This Is SportsCenter”-style advertisement.
In the spot, Smith runs a tight ship at JJ Enterprises, catching passes off a pitching machine during work hours, banning maize and blue from the office and requiring employees to memorize the company motto: Always Open.
Despite every reason to lean into the hype, Smith has remained the same hard-working presence in Columbus. His teammates see it daily in the locker room, the weight room and on the practice field.
“He’s quiet and humble, but knows he can beat you one-on-one any time and will tell you, especially if somebody says something to him,” quarterback Julian Sayin told Low. “If they do, he’s going to say something back. His competitiveness rubs off on not only the other guys in the receiver room, but everybody on the team.”
Defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. echoed that sentiment.
“It’s like you try to put a ceiling on him, but you really can’t put a ceiling on him. It’s limitless for him,” Jackson said. “He gets better each and every day, and you’re like, ‘How does somebody that good get better each and every day?’ He’s a special player and will go down as one of the greatest football players that ever played this game. I really believe that.”
Smith told Low he laughs at that kind of praise, but he still appreciates it.
“I haven’t even won any (national) individual awards yet,” he joked. “I gotta win at least one before I leave here. I got a natty and want another one of those.”
