Cardale Jones knows a thing or two about playing at a high level at Ohio State. In fact, he played at such a high level during his time with the Buckeyes that he brought a national championship to Columbus.
In just the third start of his college career, as he filled in for an injured J.T. Barrett, Jones lifted Ohio State over the Oregon Ducks in the very first College Football Playoff in 2014.
What Jones says in Columbus holds a lot of weight, and he recently heaped a ton of praise on Ohio State freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith — who is having one heck of a season.
Jones thinks Smith will eventually be an all-timer, but at the moment, he can’t yet put him on the Mount Rushmore of elite Buckeyes wideouts.
“It’s tough when you say all-time greats of Ohio State history because you have to go back to some guys like Cris Carter, Terry Glenn, David Boston, Ted Ginn Jr. and Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes,” Jones said on the “Until Saturday” podcast (h/t On3). “Out of respect to those greats, I can’t put him in the top five yet.”
Jones isn’t yet ready to coronate Smith, but he does think that moment will be coming for the star Ohio State receiver eventually.