Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith fires back at claim suggesting he is lying about how Alabama recruited him

Dec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) runs for a touchdown during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith fired back at a claim, suggesting the Alabama Crimson Tide stopped actively recruiting him because of NIL reasons.

Smith provided more clarity on the situation in his response to the claim.

“Dude say I’m capping🤣 🤡I don’t need to make nothing up💯 I got an offer but never heard anything from them,” Smith posted to X.

Dude say I’m capping🤣 🤡I don’t need to make nothing up💯 I got an offer but never heard anything from them https://t.co/6xfSklbJyt

— Jeremiah Smith (@Jermiah_Smith1) July 30, 2026

A comment made by Smith at SEC Media Days caused the conversation about Alabama and the Ohio State wideout.

“Growing up, my dream school was Alabama when Nick Saban was there,” Smith said at Big Ten Media Days. “But they wasn’t recruiting me.”

Smith reported an Alabama offer and gave his thoughts on the Tide to Touchdown Alabama a few days after earning the offer.

“I was excited,” Smith told Touchdown Alabama in February of 2022. “Alabama is a great program and was my favorite school growing up. To hear from them and get an offer is amazing.”

The Ohio State wide receiver claims his communication with Alabama ultimately stopped soon after he earned the offer.