LeBron James has always been bigger than basketball in many ways. Everyone knows about his ability on the basketball court, but he has also touched and motivated so many athletes from all fields.  Recently, Ohio State’s freshman wide receiver, Jeremiah Smith, found himself at the center of attention after LeBron tweeted about him, sending waves of excitement through the Buckeyes’ locker room.

Can you think of a young athlete training, then waking up one morning and seeing his icon tweeting about him – it’s a surreal moment that can ignite a fire in anyone’s competitive spirit. Smith’s response was as straightforward as it got, and as passionate, epitomizing the nerve of what such an endorsement from a sporting legend may stand for.

When asked about his feelings about getting a shoutout by LeBron, smith remained emphatic saying, “It was crazy for sure. That was crazy for sure. He’s a role model not just for basketball players. That’s a blessing for sure. That’s a role model for not only basketball but a lot of people in every sport.” These are real sincere and profound respect that he has for LeBron, or is it how LeBron is a model of emulation for aspiring players like Smith, beyond basketball?

LeBron’s tweet didn’t just add some buzz to Smith’s life, it added a wave of buzz to the Ohio State locker room. Most of the players on Smith’s team were pleasantly surprised by the shoutout, which captured the team’s morale and made them work harder towards achieving the team’s goals. As social media can bring recognition at the turn of a switch, Smith, now under LeBron’s endorsement, gets an opportunity for personal and professional development peculiar to high-achieving athletes afield.

Jeremiah Smith’s rise on and off the field

Of course, LeBron’s tweet quickly became the headline at some point, but it is necessary to remember that Jeremiah Smith’s accomplishments on the football field are worth exploring in more detail. Ohio State WR, even in his young college career, has already made a mark on the Buckeyes’ faithful. His current tally after four games stands at 364 yards and five TDs, but that’s just a stat; however impressive it may be, it doesn’t capture the true essence of Smith’s prowess on the field.

That prowess comes from his highlight-worthy moments in almost every game. A one-handed grab that defies logic and a rushing TD- just from the Buckeyes’ last game against Michigan State. Will Howard now has options available all across the field, and in Smith, he can go both short and long. God forbid if it’s a long pass, the defense may not get to sleep well that night. Smith’s efforts have paid off, and he has been rewarded with the Big Ten Freshman of the Week, which has put him among the best of the new generation of college football players.

However, it doesn’t stop at the accomplishments on the field; Smith has indeed been very active in the realm of NIL as well. More so, his recent contracts with leading firms such as Red Bull and Lululemon show that he is a sellable brand in the world of sports.

So, no wonder, he is getting a shoutout from Lebron! The way he’s playing, these shoutouts will only increase in number, and that locker room may have more reasons to be envious of Jeremiah Smith’s growing list of admirers across sports.