Faculty soccer recruiting has vastly modified through the years, however one of many constants that is remained is the burden of expectations on five-star recruits. The upper a recruit is ranked, the upper the expectations are that they’re going to instantly turn out to be a difference-maker for his or her group — and maybe go away convention championships and Faculty Soccer Playoff appearances of their wake. 

Within the Class of 2024 there’s no one that has increased expectations than Ohio State freshman Jeremiah Smith. The 6-foot-3, 200 pound star out of Chaminade-Madonna Prep in Opa Locka, Florida, led his group to an ideal 14-0 file and a 3rd consecutive state title and put up insane numbers whereas doing so: 88 receptions for 1,376 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2023. The Buckeye signee turned the primary extensive receiver to be ranked because the No. 1 general recruit within the Top247 rankings since 247Sports began them in 2010. He’s each bit the generational prospect. 

“He is acquired ready-to-play dimension to go together with top-flight athleticism and a complicated really feel for the place,” says 247Sports Director of Scouting Andrew Ivins, who compares Smith to Julio Jones. “And he is acquired a pro-like mindset.” 

Previous to 2024, there’d been 12 receivers ranked within the high 10 general gamers within the Top247 rankings. Dorial Inexperienced-Beckham had been the very best ranked Top247 wideout recruit when he signed with Missouri again in 2012 because the No. 2 ranked recruit within the nation. 

To attempt to set an affordable expectation for what Smith’s numbers may appear like in 2024, we studied previous freshmen performances of receivers who ranked as top-10 prospects. Some put up monster numbers as quickly as they acquired on campus and others didn’t have an immediate impression.

The typical season for the 12 receivers ranked within the high 10 general since 2010 was 40 receptions for 526 yards, and between three and 4 touchdowns of their first yr. These can be strong numbers proper out of the gate for Smith. When taking a look at Ohio State receivers in 2023 you will see that Marvin Harrison Jr. (67) and Emeka Egbuka (41) had been the one receivers to have greater than 40 receptions. Heisman finalist Harrison Jr. led the Buckeyes with 67 receptions, 1,211 receiving yards, and 14 touchdowns receptions final yr, however even a 4-star ranked recruit and eventual No. 4 general decide within the draft like Harrison Jr. caught 11 balls for 139 yards and three scores in his freshman season. Granted, Ohio State’s room was extra loaded then — Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Jameson Williams, Jaxon Smith-Njigba — than it’s now (it’s one in every of school soccer’s greatest ever). 

Smith has his work lower out for him in 2024 if he desires to copy the most effective freshman numbers put up by the 12 top-10 ranked receivers that got here earlier than him. 

• In 2011, Clemson’s Sammy Watkins caught 82 balls for 1,219 yards and tied for probably the most receiving touchdowns within the ACC with 12. 
• Not one of the different receivers had 1,000 receiving yards or double-digit touchdowns of their freshman years, however USC receivers Robert Woods (65) in 2010 and Amon-Ra St. Brown (60) in 2018 joined Watkins because the lone receivers on the record to catch 60 passes or extra. 
• The one different receiver to have have 5 or extra touchdowns of their first season was Speedy Noil of Texas A&M in 2014 (he had 5). 
• The quietest seasons belonged to Shorter of Penn State (three receptions) and Fleming (seven) and Egbuka (9) of Ohio State. Shorter and Fleming would find yourself transferring a couple of years later. 

Egbuka, once more, was in a loaded room and has rapidly made up for misplaced time with 124 profession receptions for 1,857 yards and 14 touchdowns. He enters his fourth yr in Columbus because the clear No.1 receiver for the Buckeyes now that Harrison Jr. has taken his abilities to the Arizona Cardinals. 

Really feel like we’re lacking a couple of guys? Yep. Any dialog about blue-chip wideouts who lived as much as the hype from the leap has to incorporate a couple of pre-2010 standouts. Every of those gamers was ranked as a five-star recruit within the Rivals.com rankings in the course of the 2003-09. We have chosen those that turned immediate impression gamers early on. It is a enjoyable blast from the previous.

Harvin added 41 carries for 428 yards and three touchdowns. He was insane. 

Ohio State’s killer run of receiver recruiting for probably the most half implies that even the nation’s greatest expertise is compelled to have a quiet freshman yr. That will not be the case with Smith, although. In contrast to others on the beneath record, he’ll be a starter from the leap — and he’ll want to assist the Buckeyes break in new quarterback Will Howard. If Ohio State desires to win the Huge Ten and make a run at a nationwide championship in 2024, they will want Smith to exceed the first-year efficiency of Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka, and Julian Fleming. One of many main storylines each in Columbus and nationally this season can be whether or not Smith can do this.

5-star recruits at all times have additional strain to carry out due to the label and Smith has much more strain on him as the primary extensive receiver ranked because the No. 1 general recruit, although he is confirmed zero indicators of being affected by the burden of these expectations and already has — actually — earned his stripes. Smith turned the primary participant amongst Ohio State’s newcomers in 2024 to have the black stripe faraway from his helmet (a practice began by former City Meyer in 2012 continues right now the place new gamers to this system have a black stripe positioned on their helmet to allow them to earn the appropriate to have their scarlet and grey stripe like everybody else that got here earlier than them). 

It was a glowing spring for Smith, so for now contemplate him both on monitor or forward of schedule. Thus far, so good, however we’ll observe alongside within the fall to see if he could make not solely an immediate impression, however a generational one.