Ohio State Star Receiver Spurned Miami's Offseason Push

Jeremiah Smith says a 'certain program' came after him hard, but he never considered leaving the Buckeyes.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 3:05am

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Ohio State star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith revealed that Miami made a strong push to try to lure him away from Columbus in the offseason, but he never seriously considered leaving the Buckeyes. Smith, a Miami native who starred at Chaminade-Madonna High School, said 'everyone here knows' which program he was referring to, confirming Miami's interest.

Why it matters

The fact that Miami was able to make a serious run at one of the top players in college football shows how the Hurricanes' program has improved under head coach Mario Cristobal. While Smith ultimately stayed at Ohio State, where he has put up monster numbers, Miami's pursuit demonstrates the program's newfound relevance and aggression in recruiting.

The details

Smith, who has caught 163 passes for 2,558 yards and 27 touchdowns in his first two college seasons, said there was never a moment he considered leaving Ohio State despite Miami's efforts. The Hurricanes were unable to pull the Miami native back home, but Smith admitted that if Miami's program had been in its current state a couple years ago, he may have stayed local.

  • In March 2026, Jeremiah Smith discussed Miami's offseason pursuit of him.

The players

Jeremiah Smith

A star wide receiver at Ohio State who is projected to be an early-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.

Mario Cristobal

The head coach of the Miami Hurricanes, who has helped rebuild the program into a national contender.

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What they’re saying

“I think everybody here knows who it was”

— Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State Wide Receiver

The takeaway

Miami's pursuit of Jeremiah Smith, one of the top players in college football, shows how the Hurricanes have become a more relevant and aggressive program under Mario Cristobal. While Smith ultimately stayed at Ohio State, Miami's interest in the Miami native is a sign of the progress the program has made in recent years.