LeBron Praises Buckeyes' Jeremiah Smith After 35-Yd TD

LeBron James gave a public shoutout to Ohio State sophomore wideout Jeremiah Smith after Smith’s 35-yard touchdown put the Buckeyes ahead of Michigan — a moment that underlines Smith’s rise from five-star recruit to national star. That score, part of a first-half OSU surge that made it 17-9 at the break, matters because Smith’s production (coming off a 1,315-yard season and entering the game with 69 catches for 902 yards) keeps Ohio State on track for the College Football Playoff and strengthens their bid for the No. 1 seed. Merlin senses more than fanfare in that praise. A spotlight from LeBron magnifies Smith’s Heisman and NFL chatter, while the Luke Montgomery/Bronny James AAU tie stitches college football to the pro world. Consistency will decide if Ohio State converts buzz into hardware.