For Smith’s sake, having a talented quarterback is paramount to his quest to become just the sixth wide receiver in college football history to win the Heisman Trophy. Athlon Sports’ Kyle Wood places him at No. 5 in his list of top contenders to win the prestigious award.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State sophomore receiver Jeremiah Smith has been at the top of mind since he arrived in Columbus over a year ago. Fittingly, the word “freak” was one of those descriptors of his remarkable talent. Now, he’s officially one of them.

The attention on Smith, however, allowed fellow Buckeyes wide receivers, namely Carnell Tate and Emeka Egbuka, to stack yards over the middle of the field. While Ohio State certainly doesn’t want Smith to ever be taken away by an opponent quite like that again, his impact without the football in his hands is hard to ignore.

Ohio State football star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was ranked as the No. 1 player on The Athletic's Freaks List on Monday. Here's more:

Ohio State star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has reached rock star status. That was evident in the huge crowd he drew at the Dick’s House of Sport in Polaris.

Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs are first-team preseason AP All-Americans and tight end Max Klare is a second-team preseason AP All-American.

Jeremiah Smith is the biggest star in college football in 2025. That title could end up going to Arch Manning, depending on how the season shakes out for the Texas Longhorns quarterback. But right now,