Ryan Day hilariously reacts to news 5-star WR Jeremiah Smith signing with Ohio State
Ohio State was able to get over the finish line and sign Five-Star Plus+ and On3 Industry Ranking No. 1 overall prospect Jeremiah Smith on Wednesday. A battle that went down to the end, Smith wound up sticking with the Buckeyes over the likes of Florida State and Miami. Nobody was happier with the news than Ryan Day.
In the middle of his National Signing Day press conference, somebody came in to notify Day of Smith’s letter of intent coming through. He had a hilarious reaction to the news, looking relieved more than anything. Day took a few moments to process Smith signing while having a moment with the media in attendance.
Before fielding questions on Smith as a player, Day wanted to make sure everything was official. After all, if he mentioned the player by name before officially signing, Ohio State would have some NCAA violations to deal with.
Either way, receiving the NLI from Smith was clearly a huge weight off Day’s shoulders. You can watch his full reaction here.
Smith played high school football at Hollywood (FL) Chaminade-Madonna Prep, where he was a Five-Star Plus+ prospect. He was the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Rankings, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
New Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith scouting summary
“One of the more talented and well-rounded receiver prospects in recent cycles. The highest-rated wide receiver prospect from Florida in well over a decade. A big, skilled receiver with fluidity and savvy for the position. Measured in at 6-foot-3 and around 200 pounds with a 32.5-inch arm prior to his senior season. Had a breakout junior season, catching 58 passes for 1,073 yards and 20 touchdowns while leading Chaminade-Madonna to a state title. A very polished route-runner at this stage with rare ability to change directions at his size. Smooth mover with technical refinement that allows for separation. Regularly stacks cornerbacks off the line. Pairs his route-running ability with advanced ball skills. Has strong hands and comes down with catches in traffic. A high-level ball tracker with the ability to locate the football over his shoulder. Capable of making fantastic one-handed grabs. Also flashes ability after the catch. Has the size to run through contact and a long stride to pull away in the open field. Also a strong track athlete winning state titles in the 110 meter and 400 meter hurdles as a junior. An extremely well-rounded prospect with a high floor and ceiling. Looks like a prototypical X wide receiver prospect with considerable traits and skills that point to an upside as a high draft pick.”