Jeremiah Smith Heisman Push: Ohio State Launches "JJ 4 It All" Campaign

Ohio State has released a campaign called "JJ 4 It All" to make the case that wide receiver Jeremiah Smith should win the Heisman Trophy, the Biletnikoff Award, the Maxwell Award and the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award. The campaign was released on Wednesday, as the Buckeyes push for recognition for the player the school describes as the best in college football.

Record-setting career in Columbus

Through three seasons, Smith has 232 receptions, 3,758 yards and 41 touchdowns, all Ohio State records. He also broke the Big Ten record for most all-time receiving touchdowns. The junior is also a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award, the second straight year he has reached that stage, according to the university's official athletics website.

This season, Smith has 69 receptions for 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns, leading the Big Ten in all three categories, according to Eleven Warriors.

Frustration on the field

Smith has expressed frustration over the last two games, which ended in back-to-back losses for the Buckeyes. He has also seen fewer targets since Luke Fahey replaced Julian Sayin at quarterback.

Head coach Ryan Day said on Tuesday that getting the ball to Smith is a constant topic of discussion. "You could feel [the lack of Jeremiah's usage]," Day said. He added that the team's play design starts with making sure Smith touches the ball, calling it "always a priority."

A campaign focused on Michigan and the awards

The campaign does not mention the Buckeyes' goals of winning the Big Ten championship or the national championship. It does list beating Michigan in the rivalry game as a top goal for Smith and the team. Eleven Warriors noted that the omission may reflect the difficulty of reaching the College Football Playoff or the Big Ten Championship Game this season, a view presented as analysis rather than an official statement.

WFAA also covered the campaign, describing it as Ohio State backing Smith as the best player in the country.

What next

The campaign puts Smith's individual season at the center of Ohio State's final stretch. Whether the team increases his role in the offense, and how the award voting unfolds, will be closely watched in the coming weeks.

Smith's status as a Maxwell semifinalist is confirmed by the university. Other finalists and winners for the awards named in the campaign have not been announced in the material available.

Background: The Heisman Trophy, Biletnikoff Award, Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Award are among the major individual honours in US college football.