You gotta be kidding me. Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State’s star wide receiver, straight-up turned down over $10 million to transfer this spring. Ten. Million. Bones! Seriously, in an era where guys are chasing NIL dollars left and right, Smith said “nah” to a life-changing payday to stick with the Buckeyes. That’s some old-school loyalty, and it makes you wonder what kind of player we’re really watching here.
When the Coach Left, the Chaos Began
The whole thing blew up on December 3rd. That’s when Ohio State’s receivers coach, Brian Hartline, bolted for the South Florida job. Smith found out in a meeting room, not even on his phone. Hartline himself told CBS Sports that Smith was “pretty banged up over it,” and honestly, who wouldn’t be? Losing your coach like that, especially someone who clearly meant a lot to you, is rough.
What followed was a tough 28 days for Ohio State. They dropped the Big Ten Championship Game to Indiana, who then went on to win the national title. Ouch. Then they got rocked in the Cotton Bowl by Miami, in what was the largest upset in College Football Playoff history. Talk about a gut punch. Ironically, Smith played his best statistical game of the season that night in Arlington, pulling down seven catches for 157 yards and a touchdown on 60 snaps. He even watched his hometown team, Miami, celebrate with several former high school teammates on the field. That’s gotta sting, seeing your old buddies win big while your own season is crashing.
After all that, the phone started ringing off the hook for Smith. With his coach gone and the Buckeyes reeling, other big programs sensed weakness. Smith himself has gone public, confirming that the market could have paid him upwards of $10 million to leave Ohio State this spring. But he didn’t even blink.
Loyalty Over Everything, Seriously
He just didn’t want to leave. “I never really thought about leaving Ohio State. I always wanted to be at Ohio State,” Smith said. This isn’t even the first time he’s done something like this! Three years ago, when he was the No. 1 overall player according to 247Sports Composite, he turned down a huge offer from his hometown Miami to stay committed to Ohio State. His dad, Chris Smith, gave him some killer advice back then: “Don’t be led by money.” And Jeremiah clearly took that to heart.
Coach Hartline backed it up, too. He said Smith and his dad “always shot me straight.” That’s real talk right there. Coach Ryan Day even feigned fainting at a press conference three years ago when he found out Smith was actually sticking around. That’s how big a deal this kid’s loyalty is!
So, what does this mean? It means Jeremiah Smith is a different breed. He’s not just chasing a bag; he’s building something. What an absolute baller move. You know everyone in college football is watching this guy, because he’s showing them that sometimes, commitment to your team, to your school, and to your own word, is worth way more than eight figures. We’ll be seeing this kid make headlines for all the right reasons for a long, long time.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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