One Buckeye That Illinois Football Cannot Allow to Run Wild

There are plenty of talented players Illinois Football will have to account for when they travel to Columbus on Saturday as a heavy underdog to take on Ryan Day and 7th-ranked Ohio State. However, few present the same challenge as future first-rounder Jeremiah Smith.

The Junior wide receiver has been every bit as productive as expected through the first three games of the 2026 season, hauling in 21 catches for 400 yards and 3 touchdowns to date. He’s averaging 19 yards per catch, including a 164-yard performance against Texas. Additionally, Smith broke Ohio State’s career receiving-yards record against Kent State with 85 yards on 5 catches.

So, it’s not exactly a stretch to call Smith a special talent….

That said, Illinois Football head coach Bret Bielema has seen plenty of talented receivers during his coaching career, and there are reasons Smith specifically stands out to him. When asked what separates the Ohio State junior from other elite wide receivers, Bielema pointed to three rare tools that make Smith so difficult to defend.

Bret Bielema on What Makes Buckeye’s Star Wideout Jeremiah Smith So Difficult to Contain

“Well, I think he’s got three rare tools, right? Like skills as a wide receiver. First, I got to catch the ball. He’s got exceptional hands. He’s got very good quick-burst athleticism. So a five-yard slant route or a 50-yard conversion route, he’s equally good in both. Some guys, maybe guys are good at one and not the other.

“And third, I think the third thing, best thing is, you know, you call those guys go-to guys, right? Like go-to guys are guys that not only do their coaches trust, their players, coaches trust, you know, and you can see that the quarterback, I believe, last week, they had nine third downs. Eight of those third downs were passes and six of those eight went to him, right? So, he’s got an incredible amount of trust from his players and coaches.“

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