Jeremiah Smith hints at a top program aggressively pursuing him, fueling speculation about the Miami Hurricanes' involvement.
In college sports, virtually every player is a free agent. Programs are constantly poking around to recruit the best players, plus using the transfer portal as a resource. Given the lack of a concrete structure, there are hardly any official “tampering” penalties. The Miami Hurricanes have been the subject of a few close cases, such as cornerback Xavier Lucas' unenrollment from the Wisconsin Beavers in January 2025 before moving down to South Florida. The latest was quarterback Darian Mensah entering the transfer portal after signing a two-year, $8 million NIL deal with the Duke Blue Devils, which resulted in a settlement before an official departure.
When speaking to reporters on Saturday, March 28, Ohio State Buckeyes star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith hinted at another “tampering” case.
“I knew, especially at the end of the [College Football Playoffs Cotton Bowl quarterfinals], that a certain program was going to come at me very hard, but I’m not going to say no names. I think everybody know who it was.”
There have been allegations that the Hurricanes were the ones recruiting the Miami native, who defeated the Buckeyes in the postseason en route to a National Championship appearance.
Smith is coming off a Heisman-caliber season: catching 87 passes for 1,243 yards, scoring 12 touchdowns. The 20-year-old finished sixth in voting for the award, one of three Buckeyes players and the only wide receiver to finish in the top 10.
The Hurricanes were among the first programs to present Smith with an offer as a high school recruit. They were in the running to land him, along with the Florida Gators and Florida State Seminoles, but the Buckeyes officially won the sweepstakes on Dec. 14, 2022.
As Smith enters his junior year in college football, the All-American wide receiver will have an opportunity to declare for the 2027 NFL Draft following the season.
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes are in a different place compared to when Miami native was coming out of Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School. Coming off a National Championship appearance, the program seeks to remain in contention status, especially after securing a homegrown star wide receiver in Malachi Toney. The 18-year-old is coming off a historic freshman season: catching a nation-high 109 passes for 1,211 yards, scoring 13 total touchdowns. They revamped the depth chart at the position with a few transfer portal additions, such as All-ACC Cooper Barkate, Vandrevius Jacobs, and Cam Vaughn. Plus, a couple of returning players are looking for expanded roles in Daylyn Upshaw and Joshua Moore.
As spring training continues to unravel, both the Hurricanes and Buckeyes are eyeing a National Championship title for the upcoming season.
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