On Tuesday, former Ohio State star and two‑time national champion Damien Harris appeared on a CBS Sports segment to argue that Jeremiah Smith, the Buckeyes’ leading receiver, should end his participation in the 2024 season immediately.
Smith entered the year as a freshman phenom, posting 45 catches for 672 yards and six touchdowns before a Grade‑2 ankle sprain in the third quarter of the Oct. 12 game against Michigan forced him to miss the following practice session.
When pressed, head coach Ryan Day said the program respects any health‑related decision the player makes, noting that the medical staff has cleared Smith, while the athletic department’s public‑relations office released a brief statement emphasizing that player safety remains the top priority.
In-Depth Analysis & Key Details
The notion of a high‑profile college athlete voluntarily sitting out late‑season games is not new; past examples include quarterbacks who stepped aside to preserve draft eligibility and wide receivers who redshirted after sustaining non‑season‑ending injuries. NCAA regulations allow players to retain eligibility if they miss a limited number of games, but the calculus becomes more complex when NFL scouts weigh recent tape against injury history.
Harris’s perspective reflects a growing trend among former collegiate athletes who view the draft as a financial lifeline. By limiting exposure to further injury, Smith could solidify his status as a mid‑round prospect, potentially adding $500,000‑$1 million to his rookie contract. Conversely, Ohio State’s offensive scheme relies heavily on Smith’s route‑running and yards‑after‑catch ability, and benching him could diminish the Buckeyes’ chances of securing a Big Ten title and a College Football Playoff berth, which carry multimillion‑dollar revenue implications for the university.
Sports‑medicine expert Dr. Lena Ortiz of the Ohio State Orthopedic Center cautions that even a Grade‑2 sprain can predispose a player to chronic instability if not fully rehabilitated. “From a health‑first standpoint, sitting out the final stretch reduces the cumulative load on the ankle and may prevent a season‑ending setback,” she explained, adding that the decision ultimately hinges on a risk‑reward analysis unique to each athlete’s contract outlook and long‑term health goals.
""The calculus isn’t about loyalty to a program; it’s about preserving a lifetime‑earning potential," Harris said during the interview."
Why This Matters & What Lies Ahead
For Ohio State fans, the potential loss of Smith’s playmaking ability could translate into fewer high‑scoring games, lower ticket sales, and diminished merchandise revenue as the Buckeyes chase a conference championship. On a broader scale, the situation highlights the tension between collegiate athletic traditions and the commercial realities of the NFL draft pipeline, where a single injury can alter a player’s earning trajectory by millions.
The next few weeks will be pivotal: Ohio State faces Purdue, Illinois, and the Big Ten championship before the College Football Playoff selections on Dec. 9. Simultaneously, the NFL’s Scouting Combine in early February will evaluate Smith’s medical records, making any additional injury a possible red flag. Legislative bodies in the U.S. Senate and House are also slated to debate amendments to the NCAA’s name‑image‑likeness (NIL) rules, which could further affect how schools and athletes balance short‑term performance with long‑term financial security.
Source: Reported by CBS Sports · Analyzed & Synthesized by DNB Newsroom
