Jeremiah Smith includes several surprises inside his Mt. Rushmore of top all-time Ohio State Buckeyes wide receivers

Smith went with Cris Carter, Marvin Harrison Jr., Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Ted Ginn Jr.

Each brought unique flair, rewriting record books and elevating the program’s reputation as “Wide Receiver U.”

Cris Carter, a trailblazer in the 1980s, redefined the Buckeyes’ passing game when the team leaned heavily on the run. From 1984 to 1986, Carter amassed 168 receptions, 2,725 yards, and 27 touchdowns, setting program records at the time for receptions and touchdown catches. 

His acrobatic grabs earned him consensus All-American honors in 1986 and two All-Big Ten selections. Carter’s legacy as Ohio State’s first iconic receiver endures, with his fifth-ranked career receptions and touchdowns still notable despite the evolution of the passing game. 

His dominance led to a fourth-round selection in the 1987 NFL Supplemental Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, launching a Hall of Fame career with the Minnesota Vikings.

Marvin Harrison Jr., a modern marvel, carried the Buckeye torch from 2021 to 2023. In just two years as a starter, he shattered records, becoming the first Ohio State receiver with two 1,000-yard seasons (1,263 yards in 2022, 1,211 in 2023). 

His career totals of 155 receptions, 2,613 yards, and 31 touchdowns rank him sixth, sixth, and third in school history, respectively. A unanimous All-American, Biletnikoff Award winner, and 2023 Heisman finalist, Harrison’s knack for highlight-reel catches against double teams cemented his status as a generational talent. 

The Arizona Cardinals selected him fourth overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, the highest-drafted Buckeye receiver ever.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s single-season explosion in 2021 remains unmatched. His 95 receptions for 1,606 yards set Ohio State single-season records, capped by a 347-yard, three-touchdown Rose Bowl performance against Utah—both single-game program records. Despite a hamstring injury derailing his 2022 season, his 2021 brilliance earned him a first-round selection (20th overall) by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft. 

Smith-Njigba’s one-year wonder status underscores his elite potential, with his 2024 NFL breakout (1,130 yards, six touchdowns) proving his college dominance was no fluke.

Ted Ginn Jr., from 2004 to 2006, was a dual-threat dynamo. As a receiver, he recorded 135 receptions, 1,943 yards, and 15 touchdowns, but his return game set him apart. Ginn’s 4,068 all-purpose yards, including a school-record six punt return touchdowns, made him a constant big-play threat. 

A 2006 All-American returner and first-team All-Big Ten receiver, his electrifying speed led the Miami Dolphins to draft him ninth overall in the 2007 NFL Draft. Ginn’s 14-year NFL career included 5,742 receiving yards and seven return touchdowns.

Together, these four exemplify Ohio State’s receiver pipeline, each leaving a legacy of records, accolades, and first-round NFL dreams, fueling the Buckeyes’ claim as the preeminent “WRU.”