Caleb Downs puts Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith in rare company

Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Caleb Downs puts Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith in rare company

By Brendan Howe | Last updated Aug 22, 2026 12:57 PM ET

In case there were any doubts that Jeremiah Smith will seamlessly transition to the NFL, worry no more. The Ohio State superstar received a vote of confidence from former Buckeyes teammate Caleb Downs, now playing for the Dallas Cowboys.

On an edition of "The Pivot Podcast" released on Friday, Downs, a unanimous All-American safety last season, laughed as Fred Taylor asked "how far off" Smith is from the NFL's elite receivers. Since being selected No. 11 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, Downs has seen firsthand what makes wideouts like CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens special.

"He's not gonna like this probably, but he's there," Downs said of Smith. "He's different, though. GP's ball skills, everything is crazy. CeeDee, as a route-runner and as an all-around football player.

"But Jeremiah has, when you say 'freakishly athletic' and then match that with a really good ball player, too? It's different."

Caleb Downs was asked how far off Jeremiah Smith is from Ceedee Lamb and George Pickens

Caleb responds with “right there” pic.twitter.com/CO40jko3Kk
— BuckeyeMOB (@Buckeye_Mob) August 22, 2026

Pickens had 1,429 receiving yards last season, third-most in the league behind Seattle's Jaxon Smith-Njigba (1,793) and the Los Angeles Rams' Puka Nacua (1,715). Lamb, meanwhile, has posted five consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns, including a 1,077-yard effort a campaign ago.

Jeremiah Smith a season away from NFL stardom

NFL fans won't have to wait too much longer to see Smith suit up on Sundays. After saying at the Big Ten Media Days last month that he was "kind of sad" this season will be his last with the Buckeyes, Smith was reminded that he has the eligibility to stick around longer.

"I know, but I think it's time for me to go," Smith said.

Smith's 2,558 yards and 27 touchdown receptions are the most by any Big Ten receiver ever in their first two years of college. Those two figures are also more than anyone in the country over the same span. He needs 43 grabs, 311 receiving yards and nine touchdown catches to top each of those Buckeyes program leaderboards.

According to the NFL Mock Draft Database's big board, Smith is the No. 3 overall prospect in the 2027 NFL Draft, behind two quarterbacks — Texas' Arch Manning and Oregon's Dante Moore. Other wideouts who are projected to go in the first round are Cam Coleman (No. 8, Texas), Charlie Becker (No. 22, Indiana), Ryan Coleman-Williams (No. 25, Alabama) and Nick Marsh (No. 28, Indiana).

Ohio State opens its 2026 schedule against Ball State on Sept. 5.

Brendan Howe

Brendan Howe is a Pittsburgh-based, experienced storyteller and reporter who covers the Pittsburgh Steelers for Steelers Now. He also covers high school sports for the Butler Eagle newspaper and has done work for FanSided, Athlon Sports, Sportskeeda and the Indoor Football League's now-defunct Frisco Fighters.

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