Michael Thomas on Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith: 'The next Great one 100%'

colin gay, columbus dispatch

Tue, Mar 5, 2024, 7:11 PM·1 min read

Michael Thomas sees the potential of an incoming freshman Ohio State wide receiver.

The former OSU and current New Orleans Saints wide receiver posted a picture of 2024 five-star Jeremiah Smith on X, formerly known as Twitter. And with the picture came a a dramatic prediction from Thomas.

The next Great One 100% https://t.co/a1lyrGj9ho
— Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) March 5, 2024

"The next Great one 100%," Thomas wrote.

Smith has already made an impression on players and coaches inside the Ohio State football program.

“He’s super smooth and athletic,” Ohio State quarterback Devin Brown said. “He's a big kid that could snag it literally anywhere

"This kid's just freaky."

Smith was ranked as the No. 1 player in the 2024 recruiting class per 247Sports' composite rankings. At Chaminade-Madonna Preparatory High School in Florida, Smith recorded 2,449 receiving yards and 39 touchdowns in each of his past two seasons.

At the start of spring camp, Smith was listed at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds.

Mar 5, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes offensive coordinator Brian Hartline lines up beside wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) during the first spring practice at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.

In four seasons with Ohio State from 2012-15, Thomas recorded 113 catches for 1,602 yards and 18 touchdowns. In 2014 and 2015, Thomas had back-to-back seasons of at least 780 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.

Thomas turned his OSU production into a second-round selection by the Saints in 2016. In eight years with the Saints, Thomas has 36 touchdown receptions and has eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving four times.

Thomas was the Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year in 2019, and is a three-time Pro Bowl team member. But Thomas has missed much of the past three seasons with various injuries.