EAST LANSING, Mich. — In an offense rich in game-breaking talent, true freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith took another step forward on Saturday in showing he could very well be the best of the bunch.

With his rushing touchdown in the second quarter of Ohio State’s 38-7 win over Michigan State, Smith became the first freshman in program history to record a touchdown in each of their first four games.

And Smith was just getting started.

His stunning, one-handed circus grab later in the second quarter went for 27 yards to set up another Ohio State touchdown, and Smith had one more show-stopping play on the drive.

Facing a 3rd-and-10 with Michigan State desperate to force a field goal, Smith broke free up the sideline against press coverage. Backup quarterback Devin Brown, who was forced into the game after Will Howard got the air knocked out of him on the previous play, delivered his pass on a line up the sideline, just shy of the end zone, hoping to let Smith make a play.

Smith was only able to get one hand on the ball, but that’s all he needed as he snatched the pass cleanly out of the air while never breaking stride on his way into the end zone. The touchdown gave Ohio State a 24-7 lead heading into halftime, and Michigan State never threatened again in the game.

The highlight-reel catch sent shockwaves throughout Spartan Stadium, including an Ohio State sideline that has seen such plays from Smith time and again since he arrived in January.

“What an unbelievable catch,” Day said after the game. “I couldn’t believe he caught it. That was just a tremendous play.”

His head coach was hardly the only one in awe of Smith’s latest feat. Social media was abuzz once again in what’s become a weekly tradition, including one of Smith’s childhood idols in NBA superstar Lebron James.

“It means a lot,” Smith said of James’ praise for him on social media. “Watching Lebron and looking up to him and everything he was doing in basketball, it was pretty cool to me.”

Smith finished with five catches for 83 yards and the receiving touchdown to go along with the first rushing touchdown of his career. He now has six touchdowns on the season and has caught at least five passes in three of his first four games. But for as good as Smith has been through four games, the best may still be to come as he continues to settle in as a focal point of the Ohio State offense.

“It’s his work ethic,” Day said when asked why Smith appears star-ready this early in his career. “He does it every day in practice. He just doesn’t say a word but works his tail off. His discipline and humility. He loves being a Buckeye. You can tell just by the way he works with his teammates. And he’s coming out of shell a little bit too, which is great to see.

“But the talent speaks for itself. I just am impressed with the discipline and hard work. Being able to step in at such a young age, the only way you do that is if you go put the work in. He came in with that work ethic and (receivers coach) Brian (Hartline) took it from there. He’s a special young man.”

“I think he has all the intangibles you’d want in a prototypical receiver,” fellow Buckeye receiver Emeka Egbuka said of Smith. “He’s tall, fast, and strong, all those things. But just his ability to seek knowledge and want to be able to learn. He doesn’t necessarily have to listen to everything I say or that Coach (Hartline) says, but he takes in all this knowledge and applies it on the field. And as that knowledge grows and his game expands, he’s going to grow into something special. Buckeye fans can be excited for these next few years.”

While he can’t rest on his laurels, Smith may have already blown past the “something special” trajectory. Week after week he’s proven he’s already among the best playmakers in the country, and whatever growth he experiences throughout this season could continue his push toward the class of all-time greats to play receiver at Ohio State.

Reach Dillon Davis at 740-413-0904. Follow him on X @DillonDavis56.