It has been eight years since Patrick Mahomes left college to chase his pro league dreams. But still, he has got this charm among college football players. Well, Matt Rhule’s Nebraska has one of the biggest worshippers of Mahomes. From carrying an identical look to training under Mahomes’ trainer, Dylan Raiola did not leave any stones unturned. However, his dreams of sharing the gridiron with the Kansas City Chiefs star will need some serious scrubbing. While Raiola is in the waiting line, a 19-year-old has been lucky enough to be on the Olympic Flag Football roster that also features Mahomes. Now, who is this lucky chap who is giving Raiola some major FOMO?

That’s none other than the Ohio State Buckeyes’ wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. He was the top-ranked recruit in the 2024 recruiting class, the highest-rated wide receiver in high school recruiting history, and the 9th highest-rated recruit of all time. Not just this, Smith has written himself into the Ohio State history book with his performance against Purdue football. He broke former Buckeyes wide receiver Cris Carter‘s record for most receiving touchdowns [8] by an Ohio State true freshman, gifting Ryan Day’s squad 15 touchdowns. Whether it’s acrobatic catches, winning a national title, being a quiet leader, or just doing a bit of everything, Smith has become a major vocal point in Day’s high-powered offense. 

While he is bound to fly high in the NFL, the Buckeye speedster finds himself playing a different type of football, flag football. The NFL passed the proposal to begin the venture with the 2028 Olympics. As CBS Sports’ Shehan Jeyarajah shared, “If there’s one player still in college football who has a serious chance of making the team, it’s Smith. By far the biggest hurdle is the depth of wide receiver talent in the NFL for a vastly limited number of spots, but by 2028, Smith could establish himself as one of the best.” This was then taken up on the May 21 episode of the First Things First podcast. Analyst Nick Wright shared, “Number four Jeremiah Smith solid…the greatest wide receiver prospect ever coming out of high school.

Wright continued, “He’s the highest rated he’s ever been, he’s obviously super young now. So he would be basically going after his rookie year in the NFL.” Right now, the other possible stars are already playing in the pro league. For instance, Atlanta Falcons’ Bijan Robinson, Philadelphia Eagles’ Cooper DeJean. While Mahomes is likely to have a confirmed seat at No.1, right now, Smith is the only player from college on that list. Along with this, the young chap’s NFL future is gradually taking shape.

Jeremiah Smith is shooting for the stars

At first it was Emeka Egbuka, the school’s all-time leader in catches and receiving yards, coming up with 81 catches for 1,011 yards, who sang highly of Smith. The new Tampa Bay Buccaneers star left a message for his successor. “No worries there when it comes to Jeremiah, Carnell, and Brandon. They’re going to live up to every ounce of height that there is.” Then, On3’s Clark Brooks ranked the top 100 players in college football entering the 2025 season. In that list, Smith holds the No.1 rank.

Per ESPN’s Jake Trotter, Smith is an early Heisman contender. He shared, “Multiple NFL scouts and personnel told ESPN that Smith would’ve been a top-five pick in this most recent draft, had he been eligible.” While we will have to wait till 2027 to know about his NFL destination, he is already drawing comparisons with a $120 million star. That’s none other than Miami Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill. 

“He’s got Tyreek Hill speed, matched with Julio Jones’ physical and receiving abilities. Defensive coordinators at this level have never schemed against a player like him.” While Jeremiah Smith is soaking up all the NFL limelight is seeing his NIL profile is soaring once again after securing a new endorsement. Smith’s $4 million NIL value now soars higher after a partnership with the Mark Wahlberg Auto Group. Let’s hope Smith stays on the lucky streak.