#jeremiah smith
Jeremiah Smith: Five-Star WR Phenom’s Game-Changing Announcement Sends Recruiting World Into Frenzy
• Hot Trendy News
Ohio State’s record-setting wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is once again making headlines—this time off the field—as one of the two cover athletes for the highly anticipated EA Sports College Football 26 video game. The announcement, confirmed Tuesday morning by EA Sports, places the sophomore star alongside Alabama standout Ryan Williams on the standard edition cover, instantly vaulting Smith into the national pop-culture spotlight and adding a fresh chapter to his already impressive résumé.
A breakout freshman season sets the stage
Smith’s 2024 freshman campaign rewrote portions of the Ohio State record book, as he totaled 1,312 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors and finishing as a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award. Those explosive numbers made him a natural candidate for the first installment of EA Sports’ college football series since 2013, a game eagerly awaited by fans who grew up with the franchise.
What the cover means for Name, Image and Likeness (NIL)
Being featured on the box art carries financial heft in the NIL era. Industry experts project that cover athletes can command six-figure endorsement packages tied to promotional events, merchandising, and digital in-game items. Smith already boasts partnerships with regional apparel retailers and a Columbus-based automobile group; the EA Sports collaboration could push his annual NIL earnings well past the seven-figure mark—an unprecedented haul for a second-year college player.
Reaction from Buckeye Nation and beyond
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day praised the decision, noting that Smith’s combination of production and professionalism “represents exactly what college football is all about.” Social-media engagement echoed the sentiment: within two hours of the reveal, #JeremiahSmith trended nationally on X, and Ohio State’s official hype video featuring in-game footage topped one million views on Instagram.
Inside EA Sports’ selection process
According to EA Sports producers, the company evaluated on-field performance, national brand appeal, and social-media reach before finalizing its cover duo. Smith and Williams impressed executives during on-site motion-capture sessions in Orlando, where both athletes provided voiceovers and signature touchdown celebrations expected to appear in the game’s “Road to Glory” mode.
How the spotlight could shape Smith’s 2025 season
While being on the cover historically invites jokes about a “video-game curse,” recent editions of Madden and NBA 2K have shown no real correlation between cover stardom and performance dips. Smith has spent the off-season adding five pounds of muscle and honing route precision with quarterback Devin Brown. The Buckeyes enter 2025 as preseason top-four contenders, and Smith is widely projected as a first-round pick should he declare for the 2026 NFL Draft.
What gamers can expect on July 19 release day
EA Sports confirmed that College Football 26 will launch on July 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Pre-order bonuses include an Ultimate Team pack featuring an 89-overall Jeremiah Smith card and an alternate scarlet-chrome Ohio State uniform inspired by the program’s 2014 championship run. Players who purchase the Deluxe Edition will gain early access on July 16, plus an “Elite Wideout Pack” headlined by Smith’s signature gloves and custom cleats.
Looking ahead
From a marketing standpoint, the cover announcement cements Jeremiah Smith as one of the most recognizable faces in college athletics. For Ohio State, it’s a valuable recruiting tool, showcasing the program’s ability to boost player brands on a national scale. For EA Sports, betting on a rising sophomore with NFL potential signals confidence that Smith’s star power will continue to soar. And for fans counting the days until kickoff—both real and virtual—the reveal adds yet another reason to keep Jeremiah Smith’s name at the top of their search results all summer long.
More Trending Stories
#nhl scores 6/7/2025
NHL Scores Tonight: Live Updates, Game Highlights & Playoff Picture
The latest NHL scores headline a thriller in Edmonton, where the Florida Panthers edged the Oilers 5-4 in double overtime to knot the 2025 Stanley Cup...
Read Full Story
#lg twins 6/7/2025
LG 트윈스, 9회 극적 역전승…KBO 순위 단독 선두 불붙다 (LG Twins Pull Off 9th-Inning Rally to Claim Sole Lead in KBO Standings)
서울―한국프로야구 KBO리그 디펜딩 챔피언 LG 트윈스가 6월 들어 다시 상승 기류를 탔다. 6일 고척 스카이돔에서 열린 키움 히어로즈전은 5–3 승리로 마무리돼 시즌 38승(1무 24패)을 기록, 선두권 추격의 불씨를 살렸다. 불펜 재정비로 탄력 감독 염경엽...
Read Full Story
#resident evil requiem capcom 6/7/2025
Resident Evil Requiem: Capcom Confirms New Sequel, Trailer Reveal & Release Date Leak
Resident Evil Requiem: Capcom’s Next Survival-Horror Chapter Arrives February 27, 2026 H2 The Surprise Reveal at Summer Game Fest 2025 Capcom used ...
Read Full Story