Jeremiah Smith’s rise at Ohio State has reached the point where people are already talking about the 2027 NFL Draft, and the conversation is starting to sound less like speculation and more like an inevitability.
At this stage in October, Smith has piled up the kind of production that makes the hype hard to ignore. He has already looked like a future star at wide receiver, he has found the end zone at least once in every game, and the Buckeyes are almost certain to feel his absence whenever he eventually leaves for the next level. That departure could come before next spring’s draft, which only adds to the buzz around what kind of NFL future awaits him.
The 2027 class is being billed as one that could go down as one of the best ever, and Smith sits right at the center of that conversation. Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, who has been around plenty of elite talent, recently weighed in on Smith’s Heisman Trophy case and didn’t bother softening his stance.
"Right now, if they're handing out the hardware, you're out of your mind if you don't hand that to Jeremiah Smith," Meyer said on "The Triple Option" show Sept. 30. "He's the Heisman winner unless someone takes it, in my opinion."
Smith’s production through the first four weeks has done plenty to fuel that kind of praise. His biggest statement came in last Saturday’s 42-19 win over Illinois in Columbus, when he ripped off 217 receiving yards and scored four touchdowns.
Ohio State’s immediate attention, though, is on Iowa. The Buckeyes head to Kinnick Stadium on Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff on CBS, and another explosive outing from Smith would only strengthen the sense that he’s building toward something huge.
For now, the smarter move is probably to keep it in the moment. Smith still has plenty in front of him, whether that means chasing a Heisman Trophy, adding another national title after winning one during the 2024-25 season, or simply continuing to tear through Buckeye records.
Even with all that still ahead, draft analysts are already treating him like a premium prospect. Many rank Smith as at least a top-three pick, and ESPN’s Jordan Rodgers recently pushed back hard on the idea that Smith could become the first player selected overall, with the usual assumption being that a quarterback will go No. 1.
"Absolutely not," Rodgers said of Smith. "He's a wide receiver. You never pass up a franchise quarterback and allegedly there's gonna be a few of them in this draft in 2027."
Rodgers made it clear that his point wasn’t a knock on Smith’s talent.
"You never pass up a quarterback for a wide receiver," Rodgers added. "Someone's gotta throw him the football; he can't throw it to himself."
If the draft order unfolds the way people expect, a team in need of offense could be the one to pounce. Tennessee, Miami and Arizona were named as possible landing spots if Smith is available near the top of the board.
In Other News...
Julian Sayin Sends Ohio State Offense A Clear Warning Before Iowa
Julian Sayin left the Illinois game sounding more like a quarterback settling into the bigger picture than one looking for a quick victory lap. He pointed to the offense's steady progress, the value of keeping drives alive with his legs, and the growing comfort level around him as young receivers continue to take on larger roles. Jeremiah Smith has been a central part of that mix, and Sayin also credited the veteran offensive linemen for helping stabilize things up front as the Buckeyes keep building.
The next test comes with another road trip, and Sayin made it clear those spots demand sharper execution and a little more maturity from everyone involved. Iowa is the kind of place where the margin for error can shrink fast, and Ohio State's quarterback knows the offense cannot treat this as a finished product. The message from Sayin was simple enough: the Buckeyes have come a long way, but the real work is still ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Still Has One Passing Game Issue Jeremiah Smith Cant Solve
Jeremiah Smith has been everything Ohio State could have hoped for in the passing game, and then some. The offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith, pointed to the wideouts exceptional production, with Jeremiah Smith leading the nation in receiving yards and touchdowns, while the Buckeyes continue to lean on him as the centerpiece of the aerial attack.
Still, the passing game has one lingering question beyond its star. Ohio State is trying to establish a reliable second option, with Devin McCuin currently sitting as the teams second-leading receiver, and coaches and players have kept stressing that the offense will need more than one target to keep evolving. The message from inside the program is clear enough: the Buckeyes are pleased with the production they have, but they also know the next layer of consistency has to come from somewhere else. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Has One Huge Chance To Make A National Statement
Ohio State heads into a rare early measuring-stick game with a chance to leave no doubt about where it stands nationally. The Buckeyes have looked sharp enough to build real momentum, and the next step comes in a difficult road setting where every possession matters and every explosive play carries extra weight.
Jeremiah Smith remains one of the biggest reasons this game has taken on added intrigue, even beyond the team stakes around him. With the matchup set against unbeaten Iowa and its stingy defense at Kinnick Stadium, Ohio State will also be watching how Julian Sayin handles the moment and whether the defense can create the kind of turnovers that turn a good win into something louder. [Read more 🡒]