Ohio State extensive receiver Jeremiah Smith has signed with Adidas, a significant transfer for the sportswear and footwear big forward of school soccer’s 2025 season. Smith registered 76 receptions for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns final season as a five-star true freshman sensation for the nationwide champions, who’re a unanimous prime 5 staff forward of the brand new marketing campaign.
CBS Sports activities spoke to a supply with data of the settlement Wednesday, who acknowledged Smith would nonetheless put on Nike with the Buckeyes this season. Ohio State signed a then record-setting 15-year settlement with the Swoosh in 2016 to be the Buckeyes’ official attire sponsor.
Smith just isn’t tied to the Swoosh regardless of Ohio State’s relationship with Nike.
“Off the sphere, Jeremiah will likely be in Adidas product, together with any model advertising (spots) and particular person social media posts,” the supply mentioned.
Smith had a number of gives from varied rivals and finally selected to symbolize Adidas transferring ahead.
The supply famous {that a} related situation beforehand unfolded for present WNBA rookie Hailey Van Lith, who initially transferred from Louisville — an Adidas faculty — to Nike-sponsored LSU previous to ending her profession final season at TCU final season.
Van Lith’s NIL take care of Adidas carried over to Baton Rouge. She was certainly one of 15 feminine student-athletes to signal with the model in 2022.
Smith was a breakout performer in final season’s Faculty Soccer Playoff, lighting up Tennessee and Oregon with multi-touchdown outings earlier than clinching the nationwide title towards Notre Dame with a clicking 56-yard reception within the waning moments.
“One of the crucial memorable moments from final season was dropping my black stripe and formally turning into a Buckeye,” Smith mentioned in a press launch. “Quick ahead a 12 months and I am blessed to be including three, becoming a member of the quickest model in soccer. It is loopy to be partnering with a model that has such a gifted roster of gamers and that I have been carrying since I used to be a younger child. We’re not achieved but.”
Smith advised The Athletic of his new deal that being part of the model was “one thing particular” as his soccer profession continues to leap ahead.
“I have been carrying Adidas since I used to be a younger child, 11, 10 years outdated,” Smith mentioned.
Smith joins an Adidas portfolio that features Patrick Mahomes, Travis Hunter and former Ohio State stars Garrett Wilson and Emeka Egbuka. He shattered quite a few freshman program information in 2024 and is certainly one of this fall’s Heisman frontrunners.
“We’re constructing a roster of collegiate athletes which can be writing new chapters, creating legacies and shattering information for his or her packages and universities,” Chris McGuire, adidas vp of sports activities advertising, mentioned. “Because the face of the subsequent technology of elite soccer gamers, Jeremiah has demonstrated an unwavering dedication to the sport, making him an ideal match for our roster of athletes.”
