Ohio State's football program received a major boost on Wednesday as they solidified their commitment from the nation's top-ranked player, five-star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. Smith, who had been verbally committed to Ohio State since December of 2022, confirmed his decision to sign with the Buckeyes on the first day of the high school recruits' signing period.

Hailing from Florida, Smith's announcement was highly anticipated, as other schools had hoped to sway him away from Ohio State. However, the talented receiver stayed true to his commitment and is now set to join the ranks of esteemed Buckeye wide receivers who have excelled in recent years, such as Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and potential 2024 NFL Draft top-five pick Marvin Harrison Jr.

The news of Smith's commitment comes as Ohio State experienced a setback earlier in the day, losing four-star wide receiver Jeremiah McClellan to Oregon. McClellan, the 36th-ranked prospect in the country, had initially been committed to Ohio State for the past four months.

With the 2023 early signing period in full swing, Ohio State is eyeing a resurgence to reclaim the top spot in the Big Ten from arch-rivals Michigan, who have clinched the last three conference titles with wins over the Buckeyes in the regular season's final week.

Currently ranking third in the country according to Rivals, Ohio State's recruiting class boasts three five-star recruits, including quarterback Air Noland, who signed with the Buckeyes earlier on Wednesday, and defensive end Eddrick Houston, who made his announcement shortly after Smith's commitment. Alabama had been fiercely pursuing Houston's signing.

The addition of Jeremiah Smith to Ohio State's already impressive recruiting class signals the team's ambition to compete at the highest level and solidify their standing as one of the premier college football programs in the nation.