Can Miami flip five-star Jeremiah Smith from Ohio State after landing two of his blue-chip Chaminade-Madonna teammates?
FORT LAUDERDALE — Jeremiah Smith is a celebrity already.
After Smith and Chaminade-Madonna beat Maryland’s St. Frances Academy live on ESPN at St. Thomas Aquinas High on Saturday, the five-star wide receiver granted the wish of a few children hanging out by the field’s fence, gifting them his game-used gloves and towel.
“That’s big for me,” Smith told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “I was one of them before, too, asking all the top players in Florida for their gloves and stuff like that. I have no problem with it. It’s a blessing, and I don’t take it for granted. Those little guys look up to me, so I have to do what’s best for them, too, and lead in the right direction for those guys.”
Smith, a two-time Sun Sentinel Super 11 pick, had a touchdown catch in Chaminade’s season-opener, starting the senior’s final year in winning fashion.
“It felt good,” Smith said. “That was a tough game. We knew coming in it was going to be a tough game. We just went out there and executed.”
Smith is arguably the top high school player in the country. He is listed as the No. 1 wide receiver and No. 2 player in the 2024 class by 247Sports’ composite rankings, and he has been committed to Ohio State since Dec. 14. Smith’s commitment to Buckeyes coach Ryan Day and his staff has not wavered.
“It’s still strong with those guys,” Smith said. “They know I’m locked in, pretty much, right now until National Signing Day comes. Those are my guys up there in Ohio.”
He said he plans to visit Columbus, Ohio, twice this season — first for Ohio State’s home opener against Youngstown State and again in October when the Buckeyes host Penn State.
“I know those guys are going to do what they do every year when I go up there,” Smith said. “They just ball out. Receivers ball out. The whole team just balls out.”
Despite Smith’s commitment, Florida’s “Big 3” schools, Florida, Florida State and Miami, are still on his mind. He took official visits to see the Gators and Hurricanes this summer, and he took a pair of unofficial visits to Tallahassee to see the Seminoles.
“Those are in-state schools, so I’ve got to give those guys love,” Smith said. “Florida State, Miami and Florida, those guys are recruiting me hard. So I’m just giving them a chance to recruit me.”
UM coach Mario Cristobal is known as a relentless recruiter, and he put together a top-10 class last year despite the Hurricanes’ struggles on the field. Smith’s commitment to Ohio State has not stopped Cristobal from recruiting Smith hard. Smith said he is in touch with the Miami coach daily.
“I’ve got a great relationship with coach Cristobal,” Smith said. “It’s strong. He texts me each and every day early in the morning. He’s texting me at like five in the morning, sending me little posts and stuff like that. Coach Cristobal, he’s a great head coach. Miami definitely will be back this year.”
Smith also has a strong relationship with Hurricanes wide receivers coach Kevin Beard, who joined the staff in March. He said he spoke to Beard earlier in the week after Miami landed a commitment from 2026 American Heritage wide receiver Malachi Toney.
“That’s a great pickup for those guys,” Smith said. “Miami, they’re doing some things in recruiting, so I like that for sure.”
One of Smith’s teammates, fellow five-star wide receiver Joshisa “Jojo” Trader, has been committed to Miami since July. Another Lions teammate, four-star safety Zaquan Patterson, decided Saturday that he would stay close to home and play for UM. Although the two other Chaminade stars will surely try to convince Smith to join them in Coral Gables next year, Smith said the decision is ultimately up to him.
“I know they’re going to be in my ear for the next four months. ‘Come and stay home’ and stuff like that,” Smith said. “But I know they want me to play with them. I want to play with those guys, too. But we’ve all got our destiny. We’ve all got our own paths. So we’ve got to see.”