ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. just put the entire 2027 NFL Draft on notice: Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is “locked in” as the undisputed No. 1 overall prospect. Kiper didn’t mince words, stating there’s “no doubt” Smith is the best player in what he admits is a loaded class, telling everyone to “write that in pen” when it comes to the top spot. Yeah, you read that right: we’re talking about a prospect so good, a draft guru is calling his shot for a draft still over a year away.
Jeremiah Smith’s College Dominance Is No Joke
Honestly, if you’ve been paying any attention to college football over the last three years, Kiper’s take isn’t even that surprising. Smith arrived at Ohio State as the No. 1 overall player in the 2024 recruiting class, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings, and dude wasted zero time making a splash. As a freshman, he was the Buckeyes’ go-to receiver on a squad absolutely stacked with NFL playmakers like Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate. He helped lead them all the way to a national championship right out of the gate. That’s just wild.
He only got better from there. Smith earned All-American honors as a sophomore, and now, as a junior, he’s absolutely tearing it up and could be making a run for the Heisman Trophy. Kiper even said he would’ve had Smith in his top three or five overall on the big board as a freshman. We’re talking about a guy who has been on this trajectory for years, and it’s clear as day that “nobody’s going to be touching Jeremiah Smith in terms of rating for this draft.”
Records Are Falling For This Ohio State Star
The stats back it up, big time. Despite playing in just 2.5 seasons, Smith is already Ohio State’s all-time leader in catches with 215, receiving yards with a staggering 3,542, and receiving touchdowns with 39. Seriously, he’s got more receiving touchdowns than anyone in Ohio State history, and he’s not even done with his junior year yet.
Just last Saturday, in their win over Indiana, Smith tied Braylon Edwards’ Big Ten record for receiving touchdowns. With five more games left before the postseason, and if he stays healthy, you just know he’s going to absolutely shatter that record. It’s not just Kiper either; Bleacher Report’s NFL Scouting Department already has Smith firmly locked in as the clear-cut No. 1 on their big board. The guy is a machine.
So, while Jeremiah Smith is sitting pretty as the undeniable top prospect, the real drama might come down to which team ends up with that coveted No. 1 pick. If a team desperately needs a quarterback, that could definitely shake things up, but one thing’s for sure: every team picking at the top will be having serious conversations about this Ohio State playmaker. Keep an eye on those remaining five games; Smith is about to make some more history.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
Leave a Reply