Josh Dooley
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You’re Nuts: Jeremiah Smith is the best Ohio State freshman since...
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes’ star wide receiver has already put his name on an elite list.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
Ohio State pushed its record to a perfect 4-0 on Saturday night with a comfortable win over Michigan State in the Buckeyes’ Big Ten opener. Going on the road for the first time this season, OSU took a while to get going in East Lansing, resulting in “just” a 3-0 lead after one quarter.
But then – similar to what we saw against Akron and Marshall – Ryan Day’s squad pulled away in the second and third (quarters), eventually going up 38-7 and pulling starters. All in all, it was a productive and prosperous business trip for the Scarlet and Gray, despite another slow(ish) start.
Another common theme is, was, and has been the outstanding play of Ohio State true freshman Jeremiah Smith. The seemingly AI-generated wide receiver produced at least two more insane highlights on Saturday night, as part of a six-touch, two-touchdown outing — his second two-TD performance in just four games. Sorry, that was a lot of twos.
Smith’s continued excellence already has people labeling him the best true freshman and possibly best wide receiver in OSU history. Which might sound crazy after just four games, but I mean, there’s an argument to be made, right? And that argument is more or less what inspired today’s edition of You’re Nuts.
Gene and I acknowledge and agree that Smith is up there, somewhere, in terms of all-time first-year greats for the Buckeyes. But we were wondering: Best since when? Or best since whom?
By leading off, I know that I get/have an advantage. I get the pick of the litter. And in my opinion, the pick of the litter is Andy Katzenmoyer, who was a true freshman in 1996... A scorching hot take, right?
As a true freshman in ‘96, the Big Kat became the first freshman linebacker ever to start Week 1 for Ohio State. He then proceeded to wreck shop all season for the Buckeyes, earning Co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year, All-Big Ten, and All-American honors/status along the way. Katzenmoyer also helped OSU reach and win the 1997 Rose Bowl while setting multiple school records. Not freshman records, mind you. School records.
Now, I acknowledge(d) that my pick of Katzenmoyer is not the hottest take ever published. But here’s where I will spice things up a bit: Not only do I think that Katenzmoyer is the best freshman in Ohio State history, but I also don’t think that Jeremiah Smith will come close to “catching” the Big Kat, relatively speaking. Allow me to explain.
Katzenmoyer was a Second Team All-American as a freshman. He racked up 12 sacks, 23 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles, 4 interceptions and a pick-6. He did things that no other Buckeye had ever done before, and hasn’t done since! Hell, there’s an argument to be made that Katzenmoyer produced the single greatest defensive season in OSU history. As a damn freshman.
So yeah, Smith is doing some crazy things. He is quite possibly the most talented football player I’ve ever laid eyes on. And he could very well break every OSU receiving record by the time he leaves Columbus. But to put Smith in the conversation with Katzenmoyer (frosh season(s) only), I need to see something like 1,800 yards and 15 TD from the former.
And if Smith does put up those numbers – as a true freshman – well then, we might just have to start talking about him as potentially the best player in Ohio State history. Not freshman... Player.
Until then, I’m riding with the Big Kat.
It is honestly unfair to Jeremiah Smith that he has to spend three full seasons playing college football, as I realistically think he would be perfectly fine to enter the NFL after this season and would quickly become one of the league’s best wide receivers. That being said, Ohio State is certainly happy that they get multiple years of Smith, as he is already one of the program’s top dogs after just four career games.
Unlike Josh, my Buckeyes fandom didn’t start until much later in life when I enrolled at Ohio State in 2014 — a pretty good year to do it, I might add. That said, my four years in Columbus and subsequent following of the team has led me to pick up on a lot of the history of the storied program, and so while my recency bias for guys I’ve actually watched play would probably lead me to talk about J.K. Dobbins’ 1,400-yard season as a freshman in 2017, I will instead go with the more obvious standout freshman running back.
That, of course, is Maurice Clarett.
An Ohio kid like Katzenmoyer, Clarett attended Warren G. Harding High School, where he was awarded Ohio Mr. Football and was named a U.S. Army All-American. Clarett committed to Ohio State coach Jim Tressel in 2002, having already been familiar with the head coach after his previous run at Youngstown State, with Clarett having been born in Youngstown. The 6-foot tailback came to Columbus as the No. 5 RB in the country and a top-40 player nationally.
Much like Smith, Clarett became a household name almost immediately upon his arrival. In the Buckeyes’ very first game of the 2002 season against Texas Tech, Clarett racked up 175 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries as he helped lead Ohio State to a 45-21 victory in front of the home crowd. He followed it up with another two-touchdown performance in a blowout win over Kent State, and from there tallied five-straight games of at least 100 yards rushing, with at least two touchdowns in four of the five games and a 230-yard rushing performance against Washington State.
Despite not playing in three games and battling a shoulder injury in the latter half of the season, Clarett went on to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Year after racking up 1,237 yards on the ground — at the time a freshman record — and 18 touchdowns. However, Clarett’s magical first-year run did not stop there, as he was also a pivotal part of Ohio State’s 2002 National Championship.
Clarett scored twice in the hotly contested matchup against Miami, including what would end up being the winning score in double overtime on a 5-yard touchdown run to seal a 31-24 victory for the Buckeyes. He also made a crucial play in that game without the ball in his hands, stripping the ball from Hurricanes’ safety Sean Taylor on an interception return to get Ohio State the ball back.
Obviously Clarett had his issues off the field, but he has since really turned his life around and has become an active member of his community. Clarett has used his struggles to keep others on the right path, sharing his story at prisons, juvenile detention facilities and at youth football camps to keep others from repeating it. He has since been invited back to Ohio State on several occasions, including for the 10-yard anniversary the of 2002 championship season in 2012.
Clarett completely dominated on the field as a freshman, and it is a shame we didn’t get to see how the rest of his collegiate career at Ohio State would have unfolded. Still, the Buckeyes will always be grateful for Clarrett’s role in helping them to win a national title in his first year on campus. Hopefully Smith can be a part of his own national championship run as a freshman with the Buckeyes.
Continue reading...
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes’ star wide receiver has already put his name on an elite list.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
This week’s topic: Jeremiah Smith is the best Ohio State freshman since...
Josh’s Take
Ohio State pushed its record to a perfect 4-0 on Saturday night with a comfortable win over Michigan State in the Buckeyes’ Big Ten opener. Going on the road for the first time this season, OSU took a while to get going in East Lansing, resulting in “just” a 3-0 lead after one quarter.
But then – similar to what we saw against Akron and Marshall – Ryan Day’s squad pulled away in the second and third (quarters), eventually going up 38-7 and pulling starters. All in all, it was a productive and prosperous business trip for the Scarlet and Gray, despite another slow(ish) start.
Another common theme is, was, and has been the outstanding play of Ohio State true freshman Jeremiah Smith. The seemingly AI-generated wide receiver produced at least two more insane highlights on Saturday night, as part of a six-touch, two-touchdown outing — his second two-TD performance in just four games. Sorry, that was a lot of twos.
Smith’s continued excellence already has people labeling him the best true freshman and possibly best wide receiver in OSU history. Which might sound crazy after just four games, but I mean, there’s an argument to be made, right? And that argument is more or less what inspired today’s edition of You’re Nuts.
Gene and I acknowledge and agree that Smith is up there, somewhere, in terms of all-time first-year greats for the Buckeyes. But we were wondering: Best since when? Or best since whom?
By leading off, I know that I get/have an advantage. I get the pick of the litter. And in my opinion, the pick of the litter is Andy Katzenmoyer, who was a true freshman in 1996... A scorching hot take, right?
As a true freshman in ‘96, the Big Kat became the first freshman linebacker ever to start Week 1 for Ohio State. He then proceeded to wreck shop all season for the Buckeyes, earning Co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year, All-Big Ten, and All-American honors/status along the way. Katzenmoyer also helped OSU reach and win the 1997 Rose Bowl while setting multiple school records. Not freshman records, mind you. School records.
Now, I acknowledge(d) that my pick of Katzenmoyer is not the hottest take ever published. But here’s where I will spice things up a bit: Not only do I think that Katenzmoyer is the best freshman in Ohio State history, but I also don’t think that Jeremiah Smith will come close to “catching” the Big Kat, relatively speaking. Allow me to explain.
Katzenmoyer was a Second Team All-American as a freshman. He racked up 12 sacks, 23 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles, 4 interceptions and a pick-6. He did things that no other Buckeye had ever done before, and hasn’t done since! Hell, there’s an argument to be made that Katzenmoyer produced the single greatest defensive season in OSU history. As a damn freshman.
So yeah, Smith is doing some crazy things. He is quite possibly the most talented football player I’ve ever laid eyes on. And he could very well break every OSU receiving record by the time he leaves Columbus. But to put Smith in the conversation with Katzenmoyer (frosh season(s) only), I need to see something like 1,800 yards and 15 TD from the former.
And if Smith does put up those numbers – as a true freshman – well then, we might just have to start talking about him as potentially the best player in Ohio State history. Not freshman... Player.
Until then, I’m riding with the Big Kat.
Gene’s Take
It is honestly unfair to Jeremiah Smith that he has to spend three full seasons playing college football, as I realistically think he would be perfectly fine to enter the NFL after this season and would quickly become one of the league’s best wide receivers. That being said, Ohio State is certainly happy that they get multiple years of Smith, as he is already one of the program’s top dogs after just four career games.
Unlike Josh, my Buckeyes fandom didn’t start until much later in life when I enrolled at Ohio State in 2014 — a pretty good year to do it, I might add. That said, my four years in Columbus and subsequent following of the team has led me to pick up on a lot of the history of the storied program, and so while my recency bias for guys I’ve actually watched play would probably lead me to talk about J.K. Dobbins’ 1,400-yard season as a freshman in 2017, I will instead go with the more obvious standout freshman running back.
That, of course, is Maurice Clarett.
An Ohio kid like Katzenmoyer, Clarett attended Warren G. Harding High School, where he was awarded Ohio Mr. Football and was named a U.S. Army All-American. Clarett committed to Ohio State coach Jim Tressel in 2002, having already been familiar with the head coach after his previous run at Youngstown State, with Clarett having been born in Youngstown. The 6-foot tailback came to Columbus as the No. 5 RB in the country and a top-40 player nationally.
Much like Smith, Clarett became a household name almost immediately upon his arrival. In the Buckeyes’ very first game of the 2002 season against Texas Tech, Clarett racked up 175 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries as he helped lead Ohio State to a 45-21 victory in front of the home crowd. He followed it up with another two-touchdown performance in a blowout win over Kent State, and from there tallied five-straight games of at least 100 yards rushing, with at least two touchdowns in four of the five games and a 230-yard rushing performance against Washington State.
Despite not playing in three games and battling a shoulder injury in the latter half of the season, Clarett went on to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Year after racking up 1,237 yards on the ground — at the time a freshman record — and 18 touchdowns. However, Clarett’s magical first-year run did not stop there, as he was also a pivotal part of Ohio State’s 2002 National Championship.
Clarett scored twice in the hotly contested matchup against Miami, including what would end up being the winning score in double overtime on a 5-yard touchdown run to seal a 31-24 victory for the Buckeyes. He also made a crucial play in that game without the ball in his hands, stripping the ball from Hurricanes’ safety Sean Taylor on an interception return to get Ohio State the ball back.
Obviously Clarett had his issues off the field, but he has since really turned his life around and has become an active member of his community. Clarett has used his struggles to keep others on the right path, sharing his story at prisons, juvenile detention facilities and at youth football camps to keep others from repeating it. He has since been invited back to Ohio State on several occasions, including for the 10-yard anniversary the of 2002 championship season in 2012.
Clarett completely dominated on the field as a freshman, and it is a shame we didn’t get to see how the rest of his collegiate career at Ohio State would have unfolded. Still, the Buckeyes will always be grateful for Clarrett’s role in helping them to win a national title in his first year on campus. Hopefully Smith can be a part of his own national championship run as a freshman with the Buckeyes.
Continue reading...