Jeremiah Smith stayed

Jeremiah Smith confirmed a rival program "pushed" for him to enter the transfer portal this offseason but said he will return to Ohio State for the 2026 season. (sports.yahoo.com) When asked by reporters, Smith said "I think everyone here knows who it was" and repeatedly declared he "wasn't goin' nowhere" when discussing transfer speculation. (cleveland.com) Coverage and local reporting pointed squarely to the Miami Hurricanes — Smith's hometown program that he nearly signed with as a high-school recruit — as the school that aggressively pursued him. (newsweek.com) Multiple outlets reported the pitch included an unusually large NIL/transfer package to try to bring Smith back to Florida, with media describing the pursuit as "very hard" and "aggressive." (bleacherreport.com) Smith finished the most recent season with 87 receptions for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns, and his two-year college totals stand at 162 catches for 2,558 yards and 27 touchdowns. (on3.com) Analysts and national outlets note Smith’s return locks in Ohio State’s top receiving weapon for 2026 while he remains a projected early entrant for the 2027 NFL Draft. (cbssports.com)