By Jim Naveau
COLUMBUS – Ohio State freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith has received more attention and generated bigger expectations than any OSU freshman at any position in a long time.
Smith caught two passes for 12 yards in Ohio State’s spring game in the only time his talents have been on display to the public in Ohio Stadium.
If I were asked for a prediction, I’d guess Smith will catch three to five passes in the Buckeyes’ season opener, with a significant chance one of them goes for a touchdown.
That number of catches is based on two things. No. 1, Ohio State is a 50-point favorite, so lots of subs will play and the top players probably will spend most of the second half on the sideline. No. 2, only one of the 11 OSU receivers selected in the first round of the NFL draft in the last 40 years had more than two catches in the season opener of his freshman year.
Michael Jenkins had six catches for 106 yards against Akron in 2001 but no one else has come close to those numbers.
Terry Glenn caught two passes for 31 yards against Rice in 1993. David Boston had two catches for 72 yards against Rice in 1996. Ted Ginn Jr. caught two passes for (-1) yard against Cincinnati in 2004 and Jaxon Smith-Njigba had two catches for five yards against Nebraska in a Covid-delayed opener on Oct. 24, 2020.
Chris Olave’s first season opener produced one catch for five yards against Oregon State and Santonio Holmes caught one pass against Washington in 2003 in his first opening day game.
Joey Galloway (1991), Anthony Gonzalez (2004), Garrett Wilson (2019) and Marvin Harrison Jr. (2021) all did not have a catch in their first game in scarlet and gray.
Cris Carter was not on this list because he was suspended for his senior season at Ohio State for taking money from an agent and was selected in the fourth round of the supplemental NFL draft. He had two catches for 20 yards against Oregon State in Ohio State’s season opener in 1984.
Jenkins also had the best freshman season statistically among the 10 first-rounders with 41 catches, 836 yards and three touchdowns. Holmes and Carter had the most touchdown catches with seven.
So, what’s a good guess for the score of today’s opener for the Buckeyes? It’s a mismatch any way you look at it. Ohio State will dominate on offense and on defense.
The prediction: Ohio State 49, Akron 0.
