Ohio State has spent the last decade pumping out wideouts who look ready for Sundays, and Jeremiah Smith may be next in line to keep that pipeline rolling. The Buckeyes have had a first-round receiver in five straight drafts, a record, and Smith is the kind of player who has people already talking about 2027.
Heading into 2026, Smith is viewed as the best returning player in the country. Some even think he has a real shot at the Heisman Trophy. Cris Carter is among the believers, but the former Ohio State star is aiming even higher.
While talking with Rich Eisen on the Rich Eisen Show, Carter laid out exactly how far he thinks Smith can go.
"Heisman Trophy. ... I expect him to be the third gold jacket that I've been associated with and have had a role in their life."
Cris Carter describes how good Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith is on the @RichEisenShow 🙌 pic.twitter.com/RjaZDCqI08
- ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) August 10, 2026
"Heisman Trophy. We're working on something this offseason.
We're working on yards after the catch. And guess what?
I sent him the video Saturday morning, and to the receivers coach, I expect him to be the third gold jacket that I've been associated with and have had a role in their life. That being Larry Fitzgerald, Randy Moss, and JJ.
I expect it. I sent him that video, and I mean business.
That is his genetic ceiling."
Carter wasn’t finished there. He stacked Smith up with some of the most gifted receivers the sport has ever seen.
"He's a combination of Calvin Johnson and Julio Jones, with the disposition like Larry. He's a problem. Only one more time for Michigan, but he's going to be a problem in the National Football League."
That’s a huge amount of pressure, but Carter isn’t speaking casually. He’s a Hall of Fame receiver, so when he talks about what it takes to become great, he’s speaking from experience.
And Smith may be about to back up every bit of the hype. By the end of the year, he could own Ohio State’s major receiving records for catches, yards, and touchdowns, all in just three seasons.
That’s part of why Carter sees a future Hall of Famer in him. At Ohio State, only Carter and Dante Lavelli are receivers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Paul Warfield is in the Hall as a receiver, but he played running back at Ohio State, so he doesn’t really count. Carter believes Smith can join that exclusive company.
For now, Ohio State will keep feeding its top weapon as much as possible. Smith is the best option they have, and he’s awfully tough to stop. When he eventually lands in the first round, the NFL team that calls his name should be thrilled with what it’s getting.
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