Indiana’s Curt Cignetti on Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith: ‘He’s a freak’

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Indiana football’s Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh are two of the very best receivers in the country. Becker proved critical down the stretch of Indiana’s national championship-winning season a year ago while Marsh was crucial in keeping the running undefeated streak alive in this past weekend’s win over Nebraska.

Neither is the best receiver in the country. Neither is the best receiver in the Big Ten. And that’s not me talking either, it’s their head coach.

Curt Cignetti brought up Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith without being asked about him during his usual game week press conference on Monday afternoon, replying to a question about the Buckeyes’ offense under new coordinator Arthur Smith.

“You know, there is no one like him right now playing at this level,” Cignetti said. “We got two really good ones. He’s a freak. We’re going to have to do a great job on him.”

Indiana’s going to have to try and do that great job without D’Angelo Ponds, the Hoosiers’ top cornerback in 2024 and 2025 and Smith’s former teammate at Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School in Hollywood, Florida.

To be clear, there will be no stopping Smith, who had eight receptions for 144 yards against Ponds and Indiana in last year’s Big Ten Championship Game. There is only withstanding what he can do to an opposing defense, something the Hoosiers managed last December.

We’ll find out Indiana’s plan soon enough.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos