Ohio State Star WR Jeremiah Smith Discusses Tampering Attempts

Smith reveals a program tried to lure him away from the Buckeyes after his second season in Columbus.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 3:06pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a football player in motion, with sharp planes of scarlet, gold, and navy blue creating a dynamic, multi-perspective visual.A fractured, cubist-inspired illustration captures the dynamic movement and determination of a star college football player, reflecting the high-stakes battle for top talent in the NIL era.Hollywood Today

Ohio State star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith opened up about how a program, likely the Miami Hurricanes, tried to woo him away from the Buckeyes after his second season in Columbus. Despite being one of the most highly recruited players in the country coming out of high school in Hollywood, Florida, Smith remained committed to Ohio State and has developed into one of the team's most productive and dependable playmakers over the past two seasons.

Why it matters

This story highlights the challenges top college football programs face in retaining their elite talent in the NIL era, as rival schools will aggressively try to poach star players. Smith's decision to stay at Ohio State despite the tampering attempts underscores his commitment to the Buckeyes' program and the trust he has built with the coaching staff.

The details

Smith, a native of Hollywood, Florida, was the nation's top-ranked recruit in the Class of 2024 and had offers from Miami, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, and others before signing with Ohio State. After his breakout freshman season in 2024, where he had 76 catches for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns, Smith says a program, which is widely believed to be the Miami Hurricanes, tried to lure him away from the Buckeyes. However, Smith remained committed to Ohio State and has continued to be one of the team's most productive receivers over the past two seasons.

  • In 2024, Smith burst onto the scene as a freshman, producing 76 catches for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns.
  • After his second season in Columbus in 2025, Smith says a program tried to woo him away from Ohio State.

The players

Jeremiah Smith

A star wide receiver for the Ohio State Buckeyes, Smith was the nation's top-ranked recruit in the Class of 2024 and has developed into one of the team's most productive and dependable playmakers over the past two seasons.

Miami Hurricanes

The program that is widely believed to have attempted to lure Jeremiah Smith away from Ohio State after his second season in Columbus, as the Hurricanes were the primary competition for Smith's recruitment out of high school in Hollywood, Florida.

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What they’re saying

“There were attempts to woo me away from Ohio State, in particular by one program.”

— Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State Wide Receiver

What’s next

It remains to be seen if any other programs will attempt to poach Jeremiah Smith from Ohio State in the future, but the star wide receiver's commitment to the Buckeyes appears to be strong despite the previous tampering efforts.

The takeaway

This story highlights the challenges top college football programs face in retaining their elite talent in the NIL era, as rival schools will aggressively try to poach star players. Smith's decision to stay at Ohio State despite the tampering attempts underscores his commitment to the Buckeyes' program and the trust he has built with the coaching staff.