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Cecil Merkerson III is a sports writer and editor whose bold, fan-first voice brings fresh perspective to the NFL, college football, and beyond. With a background in newsroom editing and SEO strategy, Cecil not only delivers sharp analysis and storytelling but also understands how to connect with audiences at scale. His work ranges from breaking down blockbuster trades to spotlighting rising stars, always blending strategy, spectacle, and insight.
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Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith is a household name around campus. This season, he is projected to put up historic numbers, as the Buckeyes look to capture another national title.
Jeremiah Smith #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes scores a touchdown against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the first half of the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January…
Jeremiah Smith #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes scores a touchdown against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the first half of the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 20, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images
Smith has been generating a lot of headlines recently with talk of the wide receiver room looking to be very dangerous to opposing defenses on Saturdays this season.
Ohio State is back in the spotlight and a lot of the buzz is built on their Heisman hopeful and big time playmaker at wide receiver.
Read more: ESPN Updates FPI Rankings as Texas Tops College Football Heading Into Week 1
According to preseason projections, Smith is poised to have a season for the ages, hauling in 110 catches for 1,821 yards and 21 touchdowns while positioning himself enough to finish as the Heisman runner-up during the 2025 campaign.
The Buckeyes themselves are expected to roll through the regular season, going 13-0 and securing the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. With Smith as the focal point of the offense, however, quarterback play and offensive line protection will be crucial to turning these projections into reality for Smith.
Smith’s ability to create separation, catch in traffic, and rack up yards after the contact makes him a nightmare for opposing defenses.
Ohio State’s title hopes will rely heavily on his consistency, and if he performs as expected, Smith could cement himself as one of the elite receivers in college football history.
Read more: Colts Quarterback Anthony Richardson Linked to Trade Prediction Sending Him To AFC Rival
As the season unfolds, Jeremiah Smith will be a topic of discussion throughout the season for the Buckeyes for him to turn preseason predictions into tangible results and carry the Buckeyes back to back to back nation championships.
If he does, it won’t just be a small feat it’ll be something the fans at Ohio Stadium will remember long after he hangs his jersey up for the last time in that locker room.
For more on the Ohio State Buckeyes and college football, head to Newsweek Sports