Ohio State, others await No. 1 recruit Jeremiah Smith delays sending letter of intent

Written by 247Sports reporters Brandon Marcello, Chris Hammer, Steve Wiltfong and Matt Zenitz

The world of college football is waiting Jeremiah Smith. The nation’s No. 1 player in the class of 2024 publicly confirmed his one-year commitment to Ohio State on signing day Wednesday, but has yet to send a binding letter of intent.

At a public ceremony at Chaminade-Madonna High School in South Florida, Smith appeared to sign his letter of intent, which he will need to sign and send to the school of his choice to have any binding force. It happened at 12:30 PM ET.

As of 7:30 PM ET, Ohio State has not announced that it has received Smith’s letter of intent. This opening allowed social media and message board speculation to run rampant that perhaps the Miami Hurricanes or Florida State Seminoles, contenders in recruiting Smith, had made a successful eleventh-hour bid.

By early afternoon, sources at Ohio State were not concerned about Smith’s delayed letter of intent. Coach Ryan Day He expressed relief during the signing day press conference when someone off-camera informed him that the receiver had recommitted at a ceremony in Hollywood, Florida. But something delayed Smith sending his letter of intent, and the parties involved have mostly remained silent.

Mom is also the word in Miami, although sources say a Tweet hype Posted by Miami Football Executive Dennis Smith It was about a defensive lineman for the gate, not a center for Jeremiah Smith. Dennis SmithThe letter X on

Meanwhile, those close to Smith did not immediately respond to messages from 247Sports when contacted Wednesday evening.

With Smith in the fold, Ohio State’s class ranks fourth in the 247Sports Composite team rankings. The Hurricanes are one spot below third. Miami hasn’t signed the No. 1 overall player since the linebacker DJ Williams In 2000. Florida State’s class ranked ninth.

more: Everyone’s after Jeremiah Smith, but what does the No. 1 recruit in the country want?