Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith a 'generational talent' - ESPN

Jack Daniels had never witnessed a catch like it.

The South Florida high school coach of 35 years was playing Chaminade-Madonna — and future Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith — in the playoffs.

«They were already up on us pretty good, and they had the running back throw the ball,» Daniels recalled. «And [Smith] went up — I think he was about 5 feet over the goalpost over a kid that was a Power 4 corner [Kevin Levy, who is now at Rutgers].… It was just incredible.»

The Cardinal Newman coach has faced dozens of future NFL wide receivers over the years, including Pro Football Hall of Famer Devin Hester and Super Bowl champion Anquan Boldin.

Yet to Daniels, Smith stands alone.

«He is head and shoulders, by far, the best I've ever seen,» said Daniels, comparing Smith's high school prowess to that of Baltimore Ravens MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson, who hailed from Boynton Beach Community High School.

«There's been nothing like him.»

Archbishop Carroll coach Jorge Zagales, who also lost to Chaminade in the playoffs, recalls only one opposing player over his three decades on the sidelines who could dominate like Smith.

«I coached against Sean Taylor.… and Jeremiah is right there, if not the same as Sean Taylor,» Zagales said of the former Pro Bowl safety from Gulliver Prep, who died at 24. «Sean Taylor probably would've been a Hall of Famer. I feel that's the way Jeremiah is headed.»

Clearwater Central Catholic coach Chris Harvey grew up in West Virginia watching Randy Moss play for DuPont High School. As a coach, Harvey hadn't come across anyone like Moss — until he met Smith in the Florida state championship game.

«You saw what [Moss] did to professional DBs, so imagine what he did to DBs in West Virginia in high school,»