Jeremiah Smith’s Heisman Destiny Confirmed After 3,004-yds QB Threatens Arch Manning & Garrett Nussmeier

Irrespective of your persuasions or rooting pursuits as a school soccer fan. The 2024 Heisman Trophy ceremony was a watershed second for the game as a collective. A number of prejudice and notions, each truthful and fallacious, acquired dispelled on that podium in New York. Travis Hunter’s triumph minimize proper via a few nagging stereotypes. Like how the moniker for one of the best participant within the sport can’t apply to somebody plying their commerce in a “lesser” convention. Or, extra importantly, how the Heisman is transitioning right into a quarterback-only award. Hunter is a trailblazer in multiple means. Not solely has he widened the spectrum about what it means to be a footballer along with his 2-way dominance. He’s additionally paved the best way for an additional generational non-QB, Jeremiah Smith, to go forward and reach his Heisman.

The soccer sphere is operating out of superlatives to explain Jeremiah Smith faster than he can run a route. A participant who’s transcended what it meant to be a real freshman. Labeling him a prodigy and even generational virtually looks like a disservice to his different proficient contemporaries. Nonetheless solely 19, Smith’s already earned plaudits as the most effective within the sport. Actually, in his personal place group as a large receiver. Effectively, Jeremiah Smith appears to be choosing issues up in 2025 precisely the place he left them off with that wonderful last catch within the Natty. In keeping with the oddsmakers, he’s the favourite for the Heisman among the many non-quarterbacks. That stated, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Josh Pate, who is aware of a factor or two about CFB and the way its accolades are dished out, aired the fact of Smith’s shot at glory. 

Over his namesake show, Josh Pate was confronted with a query. Are we about to see back-to-back non-QB Heisman recipients. An easy premise that’s not very black or white when you scratch the floor. Proper off the bat, Pate talked about how 36 of the highest 38 favorites, in response to Vegas, are quarterbacks. However that doesn’t low cost Jeremiah Smith since he’s certainly one of many two outliers. Nevertheless, Josh Pate introduced simply how tough it’s for a receiver—even certainly one of Smith’s ilk—to win the award. You should still keep in mind that DeVonta Smith win in ‘20 vividly. However he was an actual exception to the norm.

“Take into consideration what it took final yr. Travis Hunter received this factor… [but] it took him enjoying each methods to win it,” remarked Pate. “DeVonta Smith received it at huge receiver. He additionally, I feel, had a quarterback that was the finalist.” Certainly, DeVonta shared the rostrum along with his Alabama QB, Mac Jones. Geez, discuss a fall from grace.

Alas, Pate proceeded to drive his level residence. “That’s all the time the Catch-22. If Jeremiah Smith at Ohio State finally ends up doing [well], it was most likely Julian Sayin throwing him the ball. So, is that this a type of inverted dynamics the place the huge receiver outshines the quarterback? May very well be. May very well be,” he stated. Solely 4 pure WRs have ever received the Heisman, excluding Travis Hunter. Just one (DeVonta) since 1991. Maybe it is a QB-exclusive consciousness, in any case. However no less than Josh Pate does acknowledge Jeremiah Smith can break via.

Relying on the place you look, Smith has the joint third greatest odds to win (+1200). That is clearly a really far-sighted projection, however it does assist contextualize issues. The following non-QB within the fray is fellow teenage WR sensation Ryan Williams at Bama (+4000). The gulf between the 2 by way of odds is one thing. Pate did say Smith may “outshine” his QB—which can or is probably not Sayin—and later added he sees solely a WR profitable the Heisman if it’s not a QB. With all this baked in, Jeremiah Smith’s tryst with supremacy is unlikely—however not one thing past him. There are just a few distinguished roadblocks in his path, although. Two quarterbacks with final names that maintain some weight on the place and an unassuming wildcard.

Jeremiah Smith trails solely Arch Manning and Garrett Nussmeier, however do the oddsmakers have a blindspot?

Arch Manning’s time to shine in that Austin solar is lastly right here. The previous 5-star has proven restraint and endurance, paying his dues and biding time behind Quinn Ewers at Texas. Now that he’s acquired the QB1 shirt, the simmering hype has lastly boiled over. Manning has the joint greatest odds to win the Heisman (+850). A pedestal he shares with LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier. Now, Nuss’ household lineage is probably not as distinguished, however his dad, Doug Nussmeier, is an NFL vet who now serves as a QBs coach within the league. His tutelage and acumen positive have permeated over to Garrett. However each these gamers, alongside Jeremiah Smith, are dealing with a risk from an unlikely supply. Former participant turned CFB analyst Adam Breneman is throwing one other identify within the hat.

“I’m attempting to present you somebody you haven’t heard but. Somebody that’s utterly flying underneath the radar and is Kurtis Rourke’s substitute at Indiana. It’s Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza is 6’5 with an enormous arm and had 3,000 yards at California final season. I like anyone in Curt Cignetti’s offense. However I’m particularly excited to see what Mendoza does on this system in 2025,” remarked Breneman. Cignetti and IU noticed a midnight strike on their Cinderella run final season. However maybe a brand new sign caller in Mendoza can reignite what was magic run via the B1G into the playoffs for the Hoosiers. Rourke’s ascension to the NFL does depart a void underneath heart. Possibly Mendoza can certainly ruffle some feathers or extra.

One factor is definitive. Jeremiah Smith doesn’t want extra {hardware} to show the extent of his expertise. Evidenced by how no one appears to be fazed by Ryan Day and Ohio State not having finalized the QB that will throw to him. He’s already stirring discourse about changing the eligibility rules so that he can make it to the NFL sooner than the present norm. Akin to LeBron James over 2 a long time in the past. This can be a bona fide stud. That stated, profitable the Heisman positive might be good for the archives. To take action, he’ll most likely need to go far and past his contemporaries Arch Manning and Garrett Nussmeier. Put up numbers only a few receivers have ever put up. Be the star of the present from the perimeter. In different phrases, be Jeremiah Smith.