By Andrew McCartyShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberOhio State star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith previously revealed his decision to commit to the program was thanks to the development of the star wide receivers before him.
“I mean, it was a no-brainer for me,” Smith said in an interview with Sports Illustrated when asked about why he committed to the Buckeyes. “Seeing the success that they’ve had at the receiver position in recent years. Guys like Marvin Harrison Jr., Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, guys in the past like Cris Carter. It definitely was a day one thought of mine, coming to Ohio State to be one of them guys.”
The man behind their success, Brian Hartline, received glowing acclaim from Smith.
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“Coach Hartline is a special, special coach in my eyes,” Smith said of Hartline. “He develops first-round talent year in and year out. He pushes us each and every day to be the best version of ourselves. Coach is somebody I want[ed] to be coached by in college. He just has everything that you wanna learn at the college level and he’s gonna teach you things about the pros as well ... Coach Hartline does a good job with us each and every day, can’t thank him enough for that.”
Fast forward to Dec. 3, 2025 and the working relationship between Smith and Hartline is set to end. The Ohio State offensive coordinator is expected to accept the South Florida job after the College Football Playoff this season.
After learning of the news, Smith took to social media. "Love coach," he said accompanying a photo of the two during an Ohio State practice.
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Ohio State faces off against Indiana in the Big Ten title game on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 8 p.m. ET.
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