ESPN report, projecting Jeremiah Smith’s Heisman potential:
Title: Jeremiah Smith Tops ESPN’s Non-QB List, Fuels Heisman Buzz Ahead of 2025 Season
Columbus, OH – June 3, 2025
In a bold move that could reshape the 2025 Heisman race, ESPN has named Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith as the No. 1 player in its annual “Top 25 Best Non-QB Players in College Football” list. It’s a headline-making recognition—but more than that, it’s a warning shot to every defensive coordinator in America.
Smith, now entering his sophomore season, is already being called the most dominant wide receiver in college football. After a jaw-dropping freshman campaign that saw him haul in 87 receptions for 1,365 yards and 15 touchdowns, the South Florida native has become the focal point of Ohio State’s high-powered offense—and the face of a team eyeing a national title.
“He’s not just a receiver,” said ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit. “He’s an offensive weapon who can win you games single-handedly. He’s DeVonta Smith with more size, more speed, and maybe an even higher ceiling.”
Standing at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, Smith possesses the rare combination of elite athleticism, refined technique, and natural football IQ that separates stars from legends. His performance in Ohio State’s 2024 College Football Playoff semifinal loss to Michigan—where he torched the Wolverines for 166 yards and two touchdowns—put the nation on notice. Now, with a year of experience under his belt and a returning quarterback in Kyle McCord, expectations are sky-high.
“He’s already playing like a Sunday guy,” said Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day in spring camp. “But he’s still hungry. He’s chasing something bigger than stats.”
That “something bigger” may just be the Heisman Trophy—an award rarely won by wide receivers. Only four non-quarterbacks have taken home the honor since 2000, with Alabama’s DeVonta Smith the most recent in 2020. But Jeremiah Smith has a unique edge: volume, visibility, and victory.
Ohio State is projected to start the season ranked No. 2 in most preseason polls, with a nationally televised Week 1 clash against Texas setting the stage. A breakout game under the lights against the Longhorns could launch Smith’s campaign into overdrive.
ESPN’s ranking positions him not only as the best non-QB talent in the country, but as one of the few capable of disrupting what’s traditionally a quarterback-dominated Heisman race. His top competitors? Georgia linebacker Mykel Williams, Michigan cornerback Will Johnson, and Oregon running back Noah Whittington. All are elite—but none have the same blend of highlight-reel production and spotlight exposure.
“He’s the face of one of college football’s most visible programs,” said ESPN’s Heather Dinich. “If he keeps up this pace, the Heisman voters won’t be able to ignore him—even if he doesn’t take a single snap under center.”
As fall approaches, Jeremiah Smith is no longer just a rising star—he’s the storm on the horizon. And if he delivers on the hype, 2025 could be the year the Heisman goes wide again.
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