Nick Saban compares Jeremiah Smith to legendary Alabama WR

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Nick Saban compares Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith to legendary Alabama WR

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Sep 28, 2026 10:34 PM ET

Nick Saban has seen greatness at the wide receiver position up close and personal.

From 2008 to 2010, he watched Julio Jones dominate the college football world with the Alabama Crimson Tide.

In three seasons in Tuscaloosa, Jones caught 179 passes for 2,653 yards and 15 touchdowns. He was as dominant a college wideout as you'll ever see at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds.

At the time, Saban thought he'd never see something like it again.

And yet, history seems to be repeating itself, but this time it's happening in Columbus with Ohio State Buckeyes' star wideout Jeremiah Smith.

Fresh off a 12-catch, 217-yard, and four-touchdown performance against the Illinois Fighting Illini, Saban revealed to Rich Eisen on Monday that he sees a ton of Jones in Smith's game.

“He’s one of the most dominant players in college football,” Saban said (h/t On3). “I mean, he really is. That guy is big and strong. I thought Julio Jones was kind of one of a kind back in the day when he had him. But this guy reminds me of him in a lot of ways. He’s going to have a fantastic career. He’s had a fantastic career as a college player."

“I thought Julio Jones was kind of one of a kind. … This guy reminds me of him in a lot of ways.”

High praise from Nick Saban for OSU WR @Jermiah_Smith1

(via @RichEisenShow) pic.twitter.com/haA4Jh1K5C
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 28, 2026

Nick Saban thinks Jeremiah Smith can win the Heisman Trophy

The only wide receiver to have won the Heisman Trophy since Desmond Howard in 1991 was DeVonta Smith in 202, who, not ironically, played for Saban at Alabama.

As mentioned, he knows greatness at wideout when he sees it, and he sure seems to think that Jeremiah Smith can win college football's most prestigious individual award.

Through four games, the OSU star has caught 33 passes for 617 yards and seven touchdowns, and the Buckeyes still have eight regular-season games remaining on the schedule.

“It’s hard to say, who has the biggest impact on their team? Is that the player who has the best stats or the players who has the biggest impact on the game? I don’t know what’s more important in terms of [the] Heisman Trophy, but he’s got to be one of the players that’s very much considered for it, that’s for sure," Saban said.

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

More must-reads: