Ohio State’s offensive firepower is already getting serious props, with quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith both earning spots on ESPN’s exclusive preseason college football All-American team last week. Eli Lederman and Max Olson highlighted the First Team selections, confirming what many already expect: the Buckeyes are bringing one of the nation’s best offenses to the field this year, thanks to all that returning production.
Jeremiah Smith Is A Matchup Nightmare, Period.
Let’s be real, if you’ve watched any college football, you know Jeremiah Smith. ESPN isn’t shy, making a compelling case that he’s the best all-around player in the entire sport, regardless of position. The numbers back it up: Smith shredded defenses for 87 catches, 1,243 yards, and 12 touchdowns last fall. This guy is entering his junior season fresh off back-to-back first-team All-America selections. Talk about consistent dominance! At 6-foot-3, with an elite combo of speed and explosiveness, he’s an absolute nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators. He’s Sayin’s go-to target and, no surprise here, one of the top prospects for the 2027 NFL draft. Since the 2024 campaign kicked off, no current FBS pass catcher has logged more receiving yards (2,258) and touchdowns (27) than Smith. He’s already got 163 receptions for 2,558 yards and 27 scores, plus two rushing touchdowns. He’s about to absolutely shatter some all-time receiving records in Columbus.
Sayin’s Arm Is Elite, And He’s Only Getting Better
Then you’ve got Julian Sayin, the guy slinging it to Smith. Sayin took over as the Buckeyes’ starter a year ago and immediately put the entire country on notice as one of the best quarterbacks out there. His accuracy is unreal; an FBS-best 77% completion percentage last fall ranks third in NCAA history! He threw for 3,610 yards and 42 touchdowns in his debut season, showing poise under pressure you just don’t see from young QBs. His third-down passing conversion rate of 47.8% was only topped by two other FBS quarterbacks with at least 250 attempts. Sayin isn’t just good, he’s a known commodity and a returning Heisman Finalist from his insane freshman year where he led the country in passing. This fall brings a tougher schedule and a new system under offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, but with elite pass catchers like Jeremiah Smith and a promising running game, Sayin is set up to be even better in 2026.
This Buckeyes offense, led by these two preseason All-Americans, is not messing around. Sayin and Smith are going to light up scoreboards, break records, and make Ohio State a team everyone needs to watch this season. Get ready for some fireworks.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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