Ohio State got a smooth bounce-back win over Kent State, but the biggest moment happened off the stat sheet. As wide receiver Jeremiah Smith broke Ohio State’s all-time receiving yards record in just 32 games, former Buckeye legend Michael Jenkins was among the first to congratulate him with a touching video message on social media.

Early in the first quarter, quarterback Julian Sayin connected with Jeremiah Smith on a 23-yard pass. That single play officially crowned Smith as Ohio State’s all-time career receiving yards leader, shattering a 20-year-old record. 

Shortly after Smith made the historic catch, Ohio State Football posted a video on social media featuring Jenkins. “Buckeye nation, former Buckeye Michael Jenkins here and just want to say congratulations to Jeremiah on being the new all-time receiving yardage leader at Ohio State,” Jenkins said. “Huge accomplishment. Congratulations. It’s been a pleasure, and proud to be a part of Wide Receiver U now. Go Bucks!”

Michael Jenkins set the previous benchmark of 2,898 yards across a full four-year collegiate career, having played for the Buckeyes from 2000 to 2003. He was the undisputed primary target in an offense that didn’t throw very often, making his 2,898-yard benchmark incredibly impressive for its era. It took him 41 total games to get these yards in.

Meanwhile, Smith completely shattered the record, and it all spanned slightly over two seasons and three games. Smith’s early explosive catches cemented his place as arguably the most dominant wideout to ever wear the scarlet and grey, and proved that he is the most efficient wideout Buckeye Nation has ever seen.

Doing this in just 32 games isn’t just about college stats. It shows how ready he is for the NFL. Most receivers need four years to get near 2,900 yards, but Smith is pacing for close to 4,000 yards if he keeps playing like this. NFL scouts already see him as a top-three draft pick next spring because he produces like a pro player while still in college.

With the yardage milestone checked off, Smith is actively pursuing the remaining all-time Ohio State receiving records to complete a triple crown. Before Saturday, he was only 27 catches away from breaking Emeka Egbuka’s record of 205 receptions. He is just six touchdown grabs away from passing Chris Olave’s school record of 35. With plenty of games left in the 2026 campaign, Smith is expected to add to these totals.

Smith was deeply moved by the accomplishment and the love from Buckeye legends. “It means a lot to me. I put a lot of work into it; I bring it every game, and I am blessed,” Smith said. He added that while respecting Jenkins’ legacy, his main goal remains breaking the remaining school records held by Olave and Egbuka.

Jeremiah Smith has been a record-breaker since he started his college life at Columbus. In his freshman season, the wide receiver accumulated 1,315 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns on 76 receptions. While doing so, he also shattered Cris Carter’s 40-year-old school freshman receiving record.

During the same campaign, Ohio State went on to win the national championship. Despite being a freshman, Smith contributed to the CFP, especially against Oregon in the Rose Bowl. He caught 7 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns in that game. Even in the national championship game against Notre Dame, the wide receiver was equally impressive.

The 2025 campaign may look like he took a step back, considering his heroics from the previous year. However, the wide receiver still recorded 87 receptions for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns while serving as one of the leaders of Ryan Day’s offense.

However, what makes Smith special is that he always places the team above individual accomplishments. We saw a glimpse of that against Texas. Despite going for over 160 yards, he was distraught that the Buckeyes couldn’t hold on to their lead against the Longhorns. Even last season, Smith’s whole focus was on ending Ohio State’s losing streak against Michigan. The Buckeyes traveled to Ann Arbor and did just that.

Ohio State walked away with a comfortable 59-3 win, but the night belonged to Jeremiah Smith. Passing a legend like Michael Jenkins faster than anybody could have imagined proves Smith is operating on another level. With Jenkins officially giving his blessing, Smith isn’t just chasing Buckeye history anymore. In fact, he is setting a whole new standard for Wide Receiver U.