COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State junior wide receiver Jeremiah Smith received two major acknowledgments Monday as he was named the Associated Press national player of the week and the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week.
Smith helped the Buckeyes gain their 11th straight victory with a 42-19 Big Ten opening victory over Illinois.
He finished the game with new career highs: 12 receptions for 217 yards and four touchdowns; tying the program record for touchdown receptions in a game. His 123 receiving yards in the first quarter was the most by any player in a Big Ten game over the last 20 seasons.
Smith also became the third receiver since 2015 from a Power Four conference to have at least three games with 150 receiving yards and two touchdowns in one half.
He now leads the nation with 617 receiving yards this season; is tied for the nation’s lead with seven touchdown receptions and is fourth nationally with 33 receptions.
In the Buckeye program, Smith is the sixth to record 200 or more receiving yards in a game, hitting a career-high 217 receiving yards.