If Jeremiah Smith gets invited to New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist in December, the Ohio State wide receiver can point to Saturday’s performance against Illinois as a big reason why.
asserted
receiver → invite → reason
Smith became the first receiver in the Buckeyes’ storied history to have double-digit receptions for at least 200 yards and score four touchdowns.
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Smith → become → touchdowns
The junior finished with 12 catches for 217 yards, and his four TDs tied a school record as No. 7 Ohio State opened Big Ten Conference play with a 42-19 victory over Illinois.
asserted
State → finish → Illinois
“I think when you looked at him the first couple years, it was hard to say, ‘OK, how can he get better?’
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he → think → him
But you’re seeing it,” coach Ryan Day said.
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Day → see → it
“He did it in a variety of ways today.
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He → do → ways
He makes a spectacular catch in the corner of the end zone, wins on a fade, a home run post, and then a double move.”
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He → make → fade
He had 53 on Saturday, including 27 on his 72-yard touchdown in the first quarter that extended the Buckeyes’ lead to 14-0.
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that → have → 14
“I feel like I got better this year on the little things I need to do here and there.
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I → feel → things
My route-running has improved a lot from my freshman year to now,” he said.
asserted
he → improve → year
Two plays after Julian Sayin connected with Smith for a 31-yard completion to the Illinois 12 on the opening drive, Smith got leverage on Illini defensive back Juice Clark and hauled in a 7-yard TD to give the Buckeyes a score on their first possession for the third straight game.
asserted
Smith → connect → game
On the next drive, Smith showed off his big-play capability.
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Smith → show → capability
On first-and-10, Smith ran a go route down the middle and got behind Mac Resetich.
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Smith → run → Resetich
He caught it at the Illinois 27, did a double move at the 19 to spin Resetich around in coverage, and took it to the house.
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He → catch → house
“I can say I feel bad for him.
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I → say → him
When I did that, I just started laughing,” Smith said.
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Smith → do → that
Sayin — who was 27 of 36 for 367 yards — said they worked on that route this week.
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they → say → route
And Day said the play showed how Smith’s routes have become more refined.
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routes → say → ?
“The double move, I mean, he spun the guy around, which was well timed and thought out,” Day said.
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Day → mean → guy
“In the past, he’s so fast sometimes he would run the route and still do a great job, but you’re seeing a little bit more definition on the route.
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you → ’ → route
And so now those guys are having a hard time staying with him.”
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guys → have → him
The junior then had a highlight grab with 4:12 remaining in the second quarter to put Ohio State up 21-7.
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junior → have → State
On first-and-goal at the 9, Smith got his left foot in near the corner of the end zone while Tywan Cox blanketed him in coverage.
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Cox → get → coverage
Smith had eight catches for 150 yards and three TDs in the first half.
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Smith → have → half
It is the second time this season and third time in his career he has had at least 150 receiving yards and two TDs in a half.
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he → have → half
He became the fifth player in school history with four receiving scores with 10:07 remaining in the fourth quarter when he was wide open on a 26-yard touchdown to extend the Buckeyes’ lead to 35-13.
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he → become → 35
“Even when I was in the SEC and the NFL, you just see guys that are different-type players,” Illinois coach Bret Bielema said.
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Bielema → see → guys
“He just continues to play extremely big.
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He → continue → ?
He’s very physical and, obviously, very dominant after the catch as well.
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He → ’ → catch
He runs through a lot of arm tackles.
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He → run → tackles
You get in that kind of space to track him down and play near hip on him is very difficult.
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get → get → him
Blistering early pace
Smith has 33 catches for 617 yards and seven touchdowns, putting him among the national leaders.
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Smith → have → leaders
It’s a strong start for someone who played only the first half of two of the Buckeyes’ first four games.
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who → ’ → games
Smith said during Big Ten media day that he might have to match the season Alabama’s DeVonta Smith had in 2020, when he was the last receiver to win the Heisman.
uncertain
he → say → Heisman
The Crimson Tide standout had 38 catches for 483 yards and four TDs in his first four games that season.
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standout → have → games
After setting Ohio State’s career receiving yardage record last week, he became the first Buckeye to reach 3,000 receiving yards on Saturday.
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he → set → Saturday
He needs 10 catches to break Emeka Egbuka’s mark of 205 and two touchdowns to surpass Chris Olave’s 35.
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He → need → 35
“I’m always watching all the top receivers in the country when they’re playing.
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they → watch → country
Illinois had a receiver (Collin Dixon) who had seven touchdowns coming into this week.
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who → have → week
I mean, he’s a great receiver.
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he → mean → ?
…and 2 more, not listed.
The Aporia
