Jeremiah Smith adds a quarterback-leaning study routine as Ohio State’s film work takes an unusual turn

Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has been working on film with the team’s quarterbacks, a wrinkle that stands out even within a program built around detailed preparation. According to FOX Sports, Smith has been using that time differently from many of his wide receiver peers, who typically head to special-teams meetings as the week progresses. The approach, at least in part, reflects Smith’s broader pursuit of college football history and his belief that offensive timing and processing start earlier than most players treat it.

The routine is framed as more than curiosity. Film study is already a central tool in the Ohio State workflow, but pairing a receiver with quarterback-focused breakdown sessions changes the lens. Rather than only scouting route concepts or coverage angles, Smith’s quarterback-film emphasis suggests he is trying to connect what quarterbacks see, how decisions are made, and how those choices translate to what receivers are expected to run and when. FOX Sports’ account points to the “different direction” Smith is taking, one that blends receiver details with the quarterback perspective.

Smith’s reasoning is tied to the kind of personal motivation that often shows up in elite college football programs: chasing the broader story of the sport as much as the next practice. FOX Sports describes him as “chasing college football history,” which, in practice, means treating repetition, preparation habits, and skill development as part of a larger arc. That framing matters because modern offenses are built on communication and timing, and film is where players learn to anticipate the next move rather than react to it.

The timing and scheduling pattern described by FOX Sports also helps explain why the routine is noticeable. When Ohio State’s wide receivers head toward special-teams meetings, Smith reportedly goes somewhere else to keep his film work going with the quarterbacks. That detail matters because special teams meetings are not peripheral. They are a major component of college roster value, especially for players who are still carving out their role. Choosing film over the default meeting plan indicates a clear priority, but it does not replace the fact that special teams remains part of the weekly culture for Ohio State players.

It is also important to keep expectations grounded. The FOX Sports account does not expand on measurable outcomes, specific game planning changes, or any direct on-field results from the approach. What it does provide is a window into how a top prospect may be trying to shorten the distance between quarterback intention and receiver execution. For a receiver, seeing the play from the quarterback’s chair can sharpen decisions on routes, leverage, and adjustments when coverage disguises or timing shifts.

For Ohio State and for viewers, the practical question becomes whether this kind of quarterback-connected film work shows up in the details of execution. The most realistic “watch next” items are not headline moments, but the quiet ones: how well routes align with quarterback reads, how quickly the receiving group settles into timing windows, and whether adjustments look more immediate because the receiver is anticipating decision points earlier in the play.