Jeremiah Smith, an unnamed Ohio State wide receiver, is getting a lot of hype for 2025.

When the Ohio State Buckeyes take the field in 2025, all eyes will be on wide receiver Jeremiah Smith — and for good reason. The former five-star prospect, hailed as one of the most dominant high school receivers of the past decade, lived up to every bit of the hype as a freshman. But as spring practice and offseason workouts ramp up, whispers around the Woody Hayes Athletic Center suggest Smith might not be the only game-changing wideout in Columbus this fall.

An unnamed wide receiver — still under wraps from the coaching staff and media — has quietly been turning heads with a blend of size, speed, and technical polish that rivals some of Ohio State’s greatest pass catchers. While insiders have been tight-lipped about his identity, the buzz is loud enough that teammates are already calling this duo “the next Olave and Wilson” — a nod to the two first-rounders who helped make Ohio State Wide Receiver U.

Let’s break down what makes Jeremiah Smith such a unique weapon, explore the mystique surrounding this emerging breakout star, and evaluate what this means for the Buckeyes’ national title hopes in 2025.

There was no easing into the spotlight for Jeremiah Smith. From the moment he committed to Ohio State out of Chaminade-Madonna (FL), expectations were sky-high. The top-ranked receiver in the 2024 class — and arguably the best overall player in the cycle — Smith was seen as a generational talent, even by Ohio State’s lofty standards.

And he delivered immediately.

As a true freshman in 2024, Smith racked up over 800 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns, despite competing for targets in a veteran-loaded offense. His crisp route-running, elite catch radius, and rare body control made him a quarterback’s dream and a nightmare for Big Ten defenses. More impressively, Smith showed maturity beyond his years in understanding coverages, adjusting routes on the fly, and blocking with intent.

One NFL scout who attended several Buckeye practices last fall put it bluntly: “If he were eligible, he’d go top five in this draft.”

That kind of praise isn’t new to Columbus. The Buckeyes have seen a staggering number of first-round receivers in recent years — Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Marvin Harrison Jr., just to name a few. But those inside the program believe Smith has the potential to be the best of them all.

“He’s a leader already,” wide receivers coach Brian Hartline said this spring. “He trains like a pro, he competes in everything, and he’s elevating everyone else around him.”

Yet despite Smith’s dominance, the whispers keep growing: there’s another star ready to rise.

Ohio State is known for developing talent quietly until it’s ready to explode on the national scene. Think about how few outside the Big Ten knew Emeka Egbuka or Marvin Harrison Jr. before their sophomore seasons. That trend may be repeating in 2025.

While Smith is the face of the receiver room, insiders are raving about an unnamed wideout making waves during spring practices and private workouts. Here’s what we know:

• Physically imposing: According to multiple team sources, the receiver is listed at over 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds with elite speed. One staff member reportedly compared his physique to former Georgia standout George Pickens with the acceleration of a track athlete.
• Unreal catch radius: Quarterbacks have reportedly been testing his ability with deep balls, and he’s made several acrobatic, contested catches that stunned teammates.
• Quiet worker: Despite the attention building, coaches have noted this player’s humble demeanor. “He’s not asking for headlines. He just wants reps,” one offensive assistant said.
• Newcomer or breakout sophomore?: Some believe this player may be a redshirt freshman or a lesser-known 2024 recruit who’s just now turning the corner. Others think he could be an early enrollee from the 2025 class, possibly a surprise spring addition.
• No official name — yet: Ohio State’s media policy during spring sessions has limited access, and Hartline has declined to single out anyone beyond Smith in interviews. This has only deepened the mystery and fueled speculation online.

Recruiting message boards and Buckeye fan communities are ablaze with theories, but the consensus is clear: someone special is emerging next to Smith.Ohio State’s wide receiver room may be the most loaded in the country — again. With Smith set to be the WR1 and a potentially elite second option beside him, defenses will have their hands full. And that doesn’t even include the rest of the depth chart.

Veterans like Carnell Tate and Bryson Rodgers are back with more experience. Redshirt freshmen Brandon Inniss and Noah Rogers — both top-100 recruits — are expected to play bigger roles. And the 2025 recruiting class added another elite name in 5-star receiver Cortez Mills, who could also contribute early.

If the mystery player is one of those names, the Buckeyes’ embarrassment of riches could become a nightmare for defensive coordinators.

Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, now in his first full year running the Buckeyes’ offense, has made it clear he plans to spread the ball around and run high-tempo schemes that maximize mismatches. That means Smith, the unnamed breakout star, and the rest of the crew will rotate across formations, move into the slot, and occasionally line up in motion to keep defenses guessing.

“We’re not just going to have one guy eating,” Kelly said. “This group is too deep, too talented. And honestly, they push each other every day. That’s the best part.”

Of course, none of this matters without someone to get them the ball.

After Kyle McCord’s departure and a season of instability under center in 2024, Ohio State appears poised to turn the page with a new face at quarterback — likely sophomore Devin Brown or true freshman Air Noland. Brown, who showed flashes late last season, has the experience edge, but Noland’s raw talent and leadership have made this a legitimate competition.

Regardless of who wins the job, they’ll inherit the deepest receiver room in college football. And that’s a luxury few young quarterbacks enjoy.

“They’re making our job easier,” Brown said after a spring scrimmage. “You just throw it up sometimes, and those guys go get it. It’s a confidence booster, man.”

The Buckeyes finished the 2024 season with an 11-2 record and another loss to Michigan — their third in a row. It’s a streak that has put pressure on head coach Ryan Day and the entire program. But with Michigan losing significant talent and the Big Ten entering a new era with USC, Oregon, Washington, and UCLA joining, the path back to the top is wide open.

If the offensive line holds up and the quarterback play stabilizes, Ohio State’s receiver room alone could be enough to carry them to a Big Ten title and a deep College Football Playoff run.

That’s not hyperbole. In recent years, we’ve seen elite receiver groups at LSU (2019), Alabama (2020), and Georgia (2022–23) change the outcome of entire seasons. Jeremiah Smith could be this year’s Ja’Marr Chase. The mystery wideout might be another DeVonta Smith. And the rest of the room is more than capable of complementing them.

Ohio State’s identity in 2025 is shaping up around two key themes: explosiveness and mystery. We know Jeremiah Smith is a superstar — and he’s already proven it on the field. But what’s making Ohio State fans and media insiders even more excited is the idea that someone else, hiding in plain sight, might be just as dangerous.

Is this the deepest receiver group Ohio State has ever had? Could this mystery receiver become a household name by October? Will Smith cement his legacy as the best Buckeye receiver of all time?

We’ll find out soon enough. But for now, the buzz is deafening — and the rest of college football should be on notice.