Jan. 18—ATLANTA — It was a game like no other this season for Ohio State freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith when Texas held him to one catch in Ohio State’s 28-14 victory. OSU in a College Football Playoff semifinal by double-teaming it and sometimes triple-teaming it.
When Smith looked ahead to Monday’s national championship game against Notre Dame during Saturday’s media day for that game, he said he “can’t wait to put on a show,” but that winning the game is the thing that counts the most.
Smith has 71 catches for 1,227 yards and 14 touchdowns. In Ohio State’s first two playoff games against Tennessee and Oregon, he had 13 catches for 290 yards and four touchdowns.
“I’m not selfish. All I want to do is win,” he said. “If that’s what it takes – for me to be a decoy – that’s what I’ll do. It was frustrating but being a decoy helped me win the game (against Texas).”
Quarterback Will Howard said: “Obviously, after the first two rounds of the playoffs, we knew he was going to get some attention in this game. They did just about everything they could at the Cotton Bowl to eliminate him and not let him beat them. I thought our other guys did really well.
“There are ways to get him the ball. You just have to plan it and find different ways to attack him.”
Some of the other top quotes from the media day:
Ryan Day on the ups and downs of coaching college football at the highest level: “I tell my wife all the time we signed up for it. It’s the highest high and the lowest low lows This match will bring you to your knees and give you some of the greatest experiences in the world, and that’s it. Few people experience these ups and downs and you have to handle the tough times and enjoy the good ones, and. that’s all.
Howard on the bump that appeared on the back of his left hand in the Texas game: “The hand is in good shape. It’s just a weird bruise on my hand. It didn’t hurt at all .It just looked terrible. I didn’t even realize it until after the TV realized my hand had exploded.”
Defensive end JT Tuimoloau on combining with Jack Sawyer for 10 sacks in three playoff games: “We knew during this playoff run we had to be on our ‘A’ game. We had to elevate ourselves. It’s a Credit to Coach (Larry) Johnson, Coach (Jim) Knowles, Coach (Ryan) Day for continuing to push us and trust us and just now we’re showing what it takes we are capable.
Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman on Jeremiah Smith: “You know, it’s not just one thing you can do to defend Jeremiah Smith. He’s one of the best receivers I’ve ever seen I’ve never seen him in a college football game at a young age. He’s a dynamic football player. He’s a big physical presence, but he can run and catch.
“You’re going to have to do different things to try to keep him off balance, but also to keep the momentum of the quarterback off balance,” he said.
Sawyer on sophomore All-American safety Caleb Downs: “Caleb Downs is a phenomenal player. One of the best I’ve been around. We joke. We call him the co-DC (defensive coordinator ) because of his intelligence. He sees things and reacts so quickly. He brings a different element. We saw him from day one, we knew Caleb would be a great player and he didn’t miss anything.
Sawyer on Ohio State having five players on its roster from his hometown of Pickerington: “It’s awesome. It’s special. People say there’s something in the water there.”
Howard on TreVeyon Henderson: “He’s one of the most underrated guys in college football. This guy is an explosive guy when he gets the ball in his hands.”
Notre Dame freshman running back Jeremiah Love on favorite thing he bought with NIL money: “My favorite NIL purchase? I would say my car. I bought a car this summer , I gave it to my mother, a Porsche My mother has it now It’s hers now, basically, I have another car that I drive.
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