“Indiana’s Curt Cignetti Raves About Jeremiah Smith at Big Ten Media Days, Calls Him a ‘Freak’ and Compares Him to Julio Jones”
Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti didn’t mince words at Big Ten Media Days when asked about Ohio State freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. With the eyes of the college football world on Indianapolis, Cignetti took a moment to heap praise on a player he won’t even be coaching—at least not directly. In a sea of coach speak and guarded optimism, Cignetti’s words carried weight and conviction. He didn’t just acknowledge Smith’s talent. He marveled at it. He didn’t just call him good. He called him a “freak.” And then, perhaps the ultimate compliment for a college wideout, he compared him to none other than NFL superstar Julio Jones. It was the kind of moment that turns heads, not just for the shock value but for the underlying truth that resonates when one football mind recognizes greatness in another.
Jeremiah Smith, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound wide receiver out of Opa-locka, Florida, is no ordinary freshman. He enters Ohio State as the No. 1-ranked recruit in the nation, a five-star playmaker with size, speed, hands, and instincts rarely seen even at the college level. And it hasn’t taken long for his legend to begin spreading among opposing coaches. Cignetti, known for his direct and pragmatic approach, wasn’t fishing for headlines when he made the comparison. He was simply stating what he sees on film—and what he fears when Indiana lines up against Ohio State this season.
“He’s a freak. He’s a weapon. He’s one of those guys you watch and say, ‘We’re going to have to dedicate two defenders every snap,’” Cignetti said. “You don’t see that kind of talent walk onto a college field often. Reminds me a lot of Julio Jones when he was coming out of Alabama—just the way he moves, the physicality, the presence. Jeremiah Smith’s that kind of player.”
That kind of player. Those words linger, especially in a conference as loaded with talent as the Big Ten. It’s not often that an opposing head coach will go out of his way to talk up a freshman from a rival school, especially at a platform as visible as Media Days. But in a year where the Big Ten welcomes USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington into the fold and conference realignment adds new storylines daily, Cignetti’s comments sliced through the noise. They spoke to something undeniable: Jeremiah Smith is coming, and college football better be ready.
What makes the praise even more striking is Cignetti’s coaching pedigree. This is a man who has been around high-level football for decades. From his early days on Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama to successful head coaching stints at Elon and James Madison, Cignetti has seen and developed elite talent across the board. He’s not prone to hyperbole. He doesn’t toss around player comparisons lightly. So when he sees shades of Julio Jones—a generational NFL talent who dominated SEC defenses and became a first-round pick—in a freshman receiver just entering the Big Ten, it’s not a throwaway comment. It’s an assessment rooted in experience.
Cignetti elaborated on what makes Smith so unique: “It’s the combination of traits. He’s got the body of a grown man, the agility of a slot receiver, the catch radius of a tight end, and the deep speed of a track athlete. He high-points the ball, he gets separation, and he finishes every play like he’s trying to prove a point. And that’s before you get into his work ethic, which I’ve heard is just off the charts.”
There’s something poetic about that last line—”trying to prove a point.” Because in many ways, Jeremiah Smith enters this season with something to prove. Not to doubters—because there are few of those left—but to himself, to the game, and to the long line of Ohio State greats he hopes to join. Buckeye fans have already begun whispering his name in the same breath as Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, and Marvin Harrison Jr. But Jeremiah Smith isn’t interested in comparisons. He’s interested in domination.
And domination is exactly what Cignetti expects. “We’ve already started planning for him,” he said with a smile that bordered on grim. “You don’t wait until game week to figure out how to stop Jeremiah Smith. You plan in July. You plan in the offseason. He’s that much of a game-changer.”
What this does, of course, is elevate the stakes for everyone involved. For Indiana, who will inevitably have to face Smith in the regular season, it’s a red alert. For other Big Ten schools, it’s a warning shot. And for Ohio State, it’s validation of what they already knew—that they’ve landed a transcendent talent who could tip the scales in any game, against any opponent, in any stadium. Ryan Day and the Buckeye staff have shown remarkable consistency in recruiting and developing wide receivers, and Smith may end up being the crown jewel of their efforts.
But Media Days aren’t just about matchups and hype. They’re about tone-setting, about declaring intent, and about measuring the pulse of a league on the cusp of change. In that setting, Cignetti’s comments didn’t just shine a light on Smith. They reminded everyone that this new era of the Big Ten is going to be defined by stars. And Jeremiah Smith is already being spoken about as one of the brightest.
It wasn’t just what Cignetti said—it was how he said it. Calmly, confidently, as though it were self-evident. There was no envy in his tone, only admiration. It was the kind of moment that reveals how football minds can see things before they happen. While fans argue over preseason rankings and media members debate quarterback controversies, coaches like Cignetti are focused on reality—and his reality is that Jeremiah Smith is going to be a problem for a lot of defenses.
When asked how Indiana might try to contain such a player, Cignetti didn’t offer up a blueprint. Instead, he chuckled. “You try to limit the damage. You hope your corners are up to the challenge. But more than anything, you just respect the game and prepare your guys to compete. That’s all you can do.”
It was a coach’s answer, but an honest one. Because the truth is, there may not be a blueprint for stopping Jeremiah Smith. Not yet. Not with his blend of skills. Not with his mentality. Not with the chip he carries on his shoulder. And certainly not with the platform Ohio State is preparing to give him.
Cignetti also noted that Smith’s impact might go beyond just the stat sheet. “A guy like that changes how defenses line up. He opens things up for everyone else. Even when he’s not catching the ball, he’s making his team better. That’s rare. That’s special.”
That’s Julio Jones territory. That’s the realm of players who don’t just perform—they reshape the game around them. The idea that a true freshman might have that kind of influence isn’t just unusual—it’s borderline unprecedented. But Smith isn’t like most freshmen. He’s arrived in Columbus with the fanfare of a five-star savior and the swagger of a player who knows exactly what he’s capable of.
As for Cignetti and Indiana, their path is clear. They’ll build, they’ll improve, and they’ll prepare. And when the time comes to face Smith and the Buckeyes, they’ll do so with eyes wide open—aware of the challenge and respectful of the opportunity. Because that’s what competition in the Big Ten demands. Especially now, with talents like Jeremiah Smith entering the arena.
And while this chapter of the story is just beginning, the early reviews are in. From seasoned coaches. From national analysts. From opposing defensive backs watching tape and shaking their heads. Jeremiah Smith is not just hype. He’s not just potential. He’s the real deal. A “freak.” A “weapon.” A “Julio Jones-type.” And perhaps most terrifying of all—he’s only getting started.
