Jeremiah Smith continues to score touchdowns.
The star freshman receiver caught a 60-yard touchdown pass from Will Howard in the second quarter of Ohio State’s game against Nebraska on Saturday. It was already Smith’s eighth touchdown of the season and ninth touchdown overall.
Smith not only scored nine touchdowns in seven games, but he also caught at least one touchdown in those seven games. He is the first true freshman since Sidney Rice in 2005 to score touchdowns in his team’s first seven games of the season.
The former South Carolina star had one of the best freshman seasons we’ve ever seen from a wide receiver. Rice had 70 receptions for 1,143 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2005. No other South Carolina player had more than 27 receptions or 297 yards as USC’s offense ran through Rice. He also accounted for 13 of South Carolina’s 21 passing touchdowns.
Smith is also on pace to break an Ohio state record. The 60-yard touchdown reception tied Pro Football Hall of Famer Cris Carter for the most receiving touchdowns in a season by an OSU freshman.
Smith is part of a much more complete and dangerous offense than Rice and Carter, but that doesn’t discount how fantastic he has been so far this season. The Florida native has been one of the best wide receivers in the country and had 32 catches for 553 yards through Ohio State’s first six games of the season as the Buckeyes have been one of the best teams in college football.
