{"id":66399,"date":"2024-10-16T18:00:45","date_gmt":"2024-10-16T22:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/?p=66399"},"modified":"2025-11-07T09:26:24","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T14:26:24","slug":"ohio-state-freshman-superstar-added-to-biletnikoff-award-watchlist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/2024\/10\/16\/ohio-state-freshman-superstar-added-to-biletnikoff-award-watchlist\/","title":{"rendered":"Ohio State Freshman Superstar Added to Biletnikoff Award Watchlist"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The 2024 season is about halfway over and the Ohio State Buckeyes sit at 5-1 after dropping a one-point affair at Oregon. Now, the team is on its second off-week to gear up for Nebraska to come to the Horseshoe. Each year, the Biletnikoff Award is awarded to the top receiver in the country. To kick off the year, 49 pass-catchers were honored with inclusion on the exclusive list. <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/2024\/08\/08\/big-ten-lands-six-on-biletnikoff-award-watchlist\/\" target=\"_self\">Six Big Ten stars<\/a> were initially added.<\/p>\n<p>On Wednesday, Ohio State freshman phenom <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/jeremiah-smith-2.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-10-16_cfb\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jeremiah Smith<\/a>&#8216;s name was added to the prestigious list to join his Buckeye counterpart, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/emeka-egbuka-1.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-10-16_cfb\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Emeka Egbuka<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Congratulations to Jeremiah Smith <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Jermiah_Smith1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@Jermiah_Smith1<\/a> for being named to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List! The Biletnikoff Award recognizes the college football season&#39;s outstanding FBS receiver at any position. <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/OhioStateFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@OhioStateFB<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/OhioStAthletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@OhioStAthletics<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/OutstandingReceiver?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#OutstandingReceiver<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/NCFAA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#NCFAA<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/xl8sRtf7Mp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/xl8sRtf7Mp<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Biletnikoff Award (@biletnikoffawrd) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/biletnikoffawrd\/status\/1846537333333463327?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 16, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2>Ohio State Freshman Superstar Added to Biletnikoff Award Watchlist<\/h2>\n<p>It&#8217;s no surprise that the award for the top receiver in the nation would recognize the top playmaker in the Buckeyes&#8217; offense. The Ohio State freshman took no time at all to get acclimated to the college game and has made a tangible impact in all six games to this point.<\/p>\n<p>Smith has scored at least one touchdown in each of his first six games to start his career. His career thus far:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Six catches, 92 yards, two touchdowns vs Akron<\/li>\n<li>Five catches, 199 yards, one touchdown vs Western Michigan<\/li>\n<li>Three catches, 70 yards, one touchdown vs Marshall<\/li>\n<li>Five catches, 83 yards, one touchdown at Michigan State<\/li>\n<li>Four catches, 89 yards, one touchdown vs Iowa<\/li>\n<li>Nine catches, 100 yards, one touchdown at Oregon<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>His 553 receiving yards are second-most in the Big Ten behind <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/tai-felton-1.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-10-16_cfb\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tai Felton<\/a>&#8216;s 719. Smith&#8217;s seven touchdowns are second only to Washington&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/denzel-boston-1.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-10-16_cfb\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Denzel Boston<\/a>&#8216;s nine (not related to Ohio State legend, David Boston).<\/p>\n<h3>Certified Playmaker<\/h3>\n<p>Already at 18 years old, Smith plays like a third-year veteran receiver. He is a polished route-runner with impressive strength and body control. It&#8217;s clich\u00e9 at this point but Smith truly does turn 50-50 balls to 80-20 in his favor.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, he&#8217;s lethal with the ball in space. He scored a 70-yard touchdown off a basic slant against Western Michigan that evoked <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/jamarr-chase-1.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-10-16_cfb\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ja&#8217;Marr Chase<\/a>&#8216;s many impressive touchdowns with the Cincinnati Bengals. Smith looked like he had no right to score but he tore through the defense untouched despite having six different Bronco defenders in the area.<\/p>\n<p>He makes difficult catches look easy with his three spectacular one-handed plays in the Michigan State and Iowa games.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/2024\/06\/13\/an-ohio-state-freshman-may-be-too-good-to-keep-off-the-field\/\" target=\"_self\">Back in June<\/a>, we said of Smith:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;While 1,000 yards is a great goal to have, the Buckeyes can look toward another milestone. Smith can have the best season by an Ohio State true freshman receiver. All he needs is 33 catches for 480 yards.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Needless to say, he&#8217;s going to destroy even the most optimistic expectations this year. He&#8217;s on pace for 64 catches, 1,106 yards, and 14 touchdowns in a 12-game season. Add in a potential Big Ten Championship Game and some postseason action and he may not only have the best season from a freshman but one of the best from ANY Ohio State receiver.<\/p>\n<h3>Other New Names<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Denzel Boston, Memphis<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/jacorey-brooks-1.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-10-16_cfb\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ja&#8217;Corey Brooks<\/a>, Louisville<\/li>\n<li><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/harold-fannin-jr-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Harold Fannin, Jr.<\/a>, Bowling Green (TE)<\/li>\n<li>Tai Felton, Maryland<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/omari-kelly-1.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-10-16_cfb\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Omari Kelly<\/a>, Middle Tennessee<\/li>\n<li><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/keandre-lambert-smith-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">KeAndre Lamber-Smith<\/a>, Auburn<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/nick-nash-1.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-10-16_cfb\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nick Nash<\/a>, San Jose State<\/li>\n<li><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/devonte-ross-2.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Devonte Ross<\/a>, Troy<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/eli-stowers-1.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-10-16_cfb\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Eli Stowers<\/a>, Vanderbilt<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/dezhaun-stribling-1.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-10-16_cfb\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">De&#8217;Zhaun Stribling<\/a>, Oklahoma State<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/search\/search.fcgi?pid=ryan-williams-2,ryan-williams-11&amp;search=Ryan+Williams&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-10-16_cfb\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ryan Williams<\/a>, Alabama<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_66402\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-66402\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-66402\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/10\/USATSI_24479618_168400536_lowres-300x208.jpg\" alt=\"ohio state freshman\" width=\"300\" height=\"208\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/10\/USATSI_24479618_168400536_lowres-300x208.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/10\/USATSI_24479618_168400536_lowres-1024x710.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/10\/USATSI_24479618_168400536_lowres-768x532.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/10\/USATSI_24479618_168400536_lowres.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-66402\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo courtesy: Adam Cairns\/Columbus Dispatch \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jeremiah Smith, the talented Ohio State freshman receiver, has officially been added to the Biletnikoff Award watchlist in his first season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4051,"featured_media":66402,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5,2],"tags":[493,7983,33903,7641,73],"class_list":["post-66399","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bigten","category-featured","tag-awards","tag-big-ten-football","tag-biletnikoff-award","tag-david-boston","tag-ohio-state-buckeyes"],"modified_by":"Michael Kovacs, 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