Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz has likened Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith to NFL legends Randy Moss and Saquon Barkley. The praise comes just before the No. 5 Ohio State Buckeyes host the Iowa Hawkeyes for their Week 5 clash this Saturday.
The Saquon Barkley Parallel and the 211-Yard Ghost
When asked if he had ever coached a player with a similar impact to Jeremiah Smith, Kirk Ferentz immediately pointed to former Penn State star Saquon Barkley. according to the report, Ferentz specifically recalled Barkley's 2017 performance against the Iowa Hawkeyes, where Barkley rushed for a career-high 211 yards and added 12 receptions for 94 yards in a narrow 21-19 victory.
For Ferentz, the comparison isn't just about raw statistics but about a rare combination of elite skill and physical toughness. He noted that Barkley's ability to absorb hits and immediately return to dominate the game mirrors the resilience he sees in the 6-foot-4 Jeremiah Smith. This level of physicality is what Ferentz believes separates these players from the rest of the collegiate field.
Randy Moss and the Art of the 'Perfectly Defended' Play
Beyond toughness, Ferentz sees a stylistic echo of Hall of Famer Randy Moss in the way Jeremiah Smith operates on the field. Recalling his time at the New England Patriots training camp in the late 2000s, Ferentz described watching Moss make catches despite being perfectly defended—a feat that often left defensive coaches simply shrugging in resignation.
As reported, Ferentz believes Smith possesses that same "unstoppable" quality. The ability to convert a play when the defensive scheme has been executed correctly is a trait that turns a great receiver into a generational one. By comparing Smith to Moss, who finished his NFL career with 156 receiving touchdowns, Ferentz is acknowledging that traditional defensive discipline may not be enough to stop the Ohio State star.
Jeremiah Smith's 617-Yard Surge and the Chase for Chris Olave
The statistics backing these comparisons are staggering. Jeremiah Smith currently leads the nation with 617 receiving yards on 33 receptions, averaging 16.2 yards per catch. He is coming off a career-best performance against the Illinois Fighting Illini on September 26, where he hauled in 12 receptions for 217 yards and four touchdowns.
Smith is now on the verge of rewriting the Ohio State Buckeyes record books. With 34 receiving touchdowns, he is only two scores away from surpassing Chris Olave as the program's all-time leader in receiving touchdowns.. Additionally,he sits at 201 career receptions, just five shy of the record held by Emeka Egbuka.
Iowa's 8.0 Points-Per-Game Defense vs. the Buckeyes' Offense
Despite the hype surrounding Smith, the Iowa Hawkeyes enter this matchup with a defensive unit that is statistically dominant. Iowa currently ranks first in the Big Ten in opponent points,allowing just 8.0 per game, and ranks third in opponent rushing yards at 87.8 per game. This defensive rigidity has helped the Hawkeyes start the season 4-0, including a recent walk-off victory over the Michigan Wolverines.
This game represents a clash of extremes: the most efficient defense in the conference against a receiver who is breaking national records. While Ohio State has historically dominated the series with a 17-3 record,the Buckeyes are nursing a bruised ego after blowing a 20-point lead to the No. 1-ranked Texas Longhorns in Week 2.
Will the 2024 Defensive Blueprint Hold Against Smith?
The primary question remaining is whether Iowa can replicate its previous success against the star receiver. In their 2024 meeting, the Iowa Hawkeyes maanaged to limit Jeremiah Smith to just four receptions, though those catches still accounted for 89 yards and a touchdown in a 35-7 Ohio State win. It remains to be seen if Smith's growth into the all-time receiving yards leader will render that previous blueprint obsolete.
Furthermore, the report focuses heavily on Ferentz's perspective; it remains unclear how the Ohio State coaching staff intends to utilize Smith aggainst a defense that allows so few points. whether the Buckeyes will rely on Smith's physicality or try to outmaneuver Iowa's secondary will be the deciding factor of the game.
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