No Ohio State wide receiver has started their career the way Smith has. Plenty have flashed and even come on late to end up making impact plays in games as important as the Michigan game. But Smith — the kid who had Day ready to faint on Signing Day — didn’t need a buildup.

On Wednesday, the Maxwell Football Club named Smith a semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year award, given annually to the best freshman in college football. @OhioStateFB s @Jermiah_Smith1 is a Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Semifinalist! #MaxwellFootball @shaunalexander pic.twitter.com/KnWZCZXAqn

Jeremiah Smith has made it a record-setting day against Purdue as the Ohio State receiver now has more catches than any other true freshman in Ohio State football history.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith broke a program record on Saturday, as he broke the school record for touchdowns in a season. Smith scored on a 17-yard touchdown at the end of the first half against Purdue to put the Buckeyes up 21-0. He finished the first half with six catches for 87 yards and a score.

Jeremiah Smith broke Cris Carter's Ohio State freshman receiving touchdowns record with a 17-yard scoring snag in the second quarter against Purdue, giving him all three freshman records.

Jeremiah Smith passed Cris Carter's record for most touchdown receptions by an Ohio State freshman on Saturday when he notched his ninth receiving TD of the season.

Jeremiah Smith is a generational talent, and Ohio State football knew it had something special before the season even began. Now, there's no reason to think many expected Smith to explode the way he has.

The Ohio State football program continued their pursuit of another College Football Playoff berth Saturday, defeating the Purdue Boilermakers 45-0 at home in front of the Buckeye faithful. Freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith had a record-breaking day,