Jeremiah Smith has to be the only player in college football that nobody would bat an eye if you told them he’s the best player in the country. Of course, the college football landscape. The only Heisman wide-out candidate. The man’s literally a reincarnation of Julio Jones. When you play as well as Jeremiah Smith, the big folks notice and eventually will step in to help him reach the top of everything. That’s exactly what an NFL legend and $15 million man did.

We all know that Jeremiah Smith has become one of the biggest names in college football, and now he’s made history off the field too. On October 22nd, Red Bull announced a special limited-edition can featuring Smith—making him the first college athlete to ever appear on one of their Red Bull cans. Guess who surprised with the revealing? NFL legend and $15 million man, Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson.

The host of ‘Nightcap’ podcast took it X and gave props to Jeremiah for this legendary milestone: “Congratulations to my young boul Jermiah Smith whose limited edition redbull energy drink is now available exclusively in Ohio through December while supplies last.” Even Red Bull gave props to both, posted online, saying: “Special delivery from one goat to the next 🐐 Jeremiah Smith Limited Edition Red Bull Energy Drink is available now exclusively in Ohio through December while supplies last 🪽”

All due respect, but the design of the can is all about Jeremiah Smith. It shows two photos of him — one where he’s wearing a Red Bull hat and holding a football, and another of him making a one-handed catch. The can also has small football details like play symbols and a route line inspired by his 56-yard catch in the 2024 natty against the Notre Dame. And yes, obviously, the number “4” is stashed in red to represent Smith’s jersey number. It’s a creative way to honor both his game and his journey as one of college football’s top receivers.

This partnership also shows how fast Smith’s NIL value is sky-rocketing. This puts him close to Arch Manning. Manning currently has a $4.7 million NIL, while Jeremiah Smith’s NIL has risen to $4.2 million, a difference of just $500k. Although Arch Manning is also a Red Bull athlete and the face of Red Bull college football, his NIL value has dipped due to his recent poor performance.

Manning’s NIL was around $6.5 million at the start of the season but has fallen to $4.7 million since then. Meanwhile, Jeremiah Smith’s career trajectory is still on the rise. After an impressive freshman season with 1,315 yards and 13 touchdowns, Smith has continued the pace this season with 602 yards, seven touchdowns, and 49 receptions in six games.

Besides Red Bull, Smith already has NIL deals with Adidas and the Mark Wahlberg Auto Group. He first teamed up with Red Bull in September 2024, and safe to say, now the Red Bull brand sees bigger and better marketing potential in him than in Arch Manning. However, this comes with an on-field impact.

Ryan Day plans to take the stress off Jeremiah Smith’s plate

Ryan Day is always looking for ways to make the team better. Even though Jeremiah Smith has been performing at a high level, Day recently pointed out that there’s room for improvement at the wide receiver position. With Julian Sayin stepping in as the QB1 this year, the offense has been diabolical at best, and according to PFSN’s CFB OFFi metric, Ohio State is ranked third in the country.

Day explained that depth at wide receiver is important for the team’s overall success. Players like Quincy Porter, Mylan Graham, and Bryson Rodgers can help take some pressure off Smith and Carnell Tate. Rodgers is expected back this week, which could give the Buckeyes more options and keep the offense strong throughout the long season. Day said, “It’s a long season. They [Smith and Tate] need that depth. It’s important. The team needs it.” Having more capable receivers means the team isn’t relying too heavily on just two players to make big plays.

So far this season, outside of Smith and Tate, Ohio State’s wide receivers have only combined for 248 yards, which is lower than expected for a program known for producing elite receivers. If the Buckeyes want to compete for another national title, they need more contributions from the rest of their receiving corps. Adding production from other wideouts would make the offense even stronger and help Smith and Tate shine even more without carrying all the pressure themselves.