The Ohio State wide receiver has drawn extraordinary comparisons after two record setting
Long before the 2027 NFL draft arrives, one name has already taken over the conversation and it belongs to a college sophomore.
Jeremiah Smith, the wide receiver for the Ohio State Buckeyes, has become the most talked-about prospect in recent draft history after NFL draft analyst Todd McShay placed him above some of the most celebrated pass-catchers the league has ever seen. For a player who has not yet finished his college career, the weight of that assessment is remarkable.
McShay, speaking on his podcast, said his current grade for Smith exceeds the scores he gave Marvin Harrison Jr., Ja’Marr Chase, and A.J. Green when they were coming out of college. The only prospect McShay rated higher in his career was Calvin Johnson, the Detroit Lions legend widely regarded as one of the greatest wide receivers in NFL history, who received a grade in the 97 or 98 range ahead of the 2007 draft.
What makes McShay’s position even more notable is that he left the door open for Smith to eventually surpass even Johnson’s grade, depending on how the 2026 college football season plays out. That kind of measured but forward leaning praise has sent draft circles into a quiet frenzy.
Two seasons that set records and raised expectations
Smith’s numbers at Ohio State have backed up every bit of the attention. As a freshman, he recorded 76 receptions for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns, helping the Buckeyes claim a national championship along the way. He followed that up in his sophomore year with 87 receptions for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns a performance level that few receivers sustain across back to back college seasons.
Those two years also earned him a sixth place finish in the Heisman Trophy race and unanimous All American recognition, honors that speak not only to raw talent but to consistent production in high pressure moments. Smith has shown he can deliver when games matter most, which is precisely what scouts and front offices spend years searching for.
Why teams without a quarterback need may win big
The 2027 draft class is loaded with quarterback talent. Arch Manning, Dante Moore, and Drew Mestemaker are all expected to generate serious interest at the top of the board, and teams in rebuild mode will be watching the quarterback race closely. But for franchises that already have their signal caller in place, Smith represents something potentially more valuable in the short term an immediate difference maker on offense.
A wide receiver of Smith’s caliber can transform an entire passing game. His combination of route running, hands, and the ability to create separation has analysts describing him as a player who changes what defenses are able to do on a week to week basis. Teams fortunate enough to land him without giving up significant assets could find themselves with one of the draft’s clearest winners, regardless of position.
The 2026 season will define just how high the ceiling goes
Smith enters his junior season carrying expectations that would be difficult for most players to manage. But those who have followed his career closely point out that elevated expectations have only seemed to bring out sharper performances from him. His two seasons at Ohio State were not statistical flukes they were the product of a player who processes the game at an advanced level and competes with a focus rarely seen at the college level.
If Smith sustains or builds on what he has already done, the 2027 draft conversation may shift from whether he is the best prospect in the class to whether he belongs in the discussion of all time greats before he ever plays a professional snap. That is the kind of trajectory McShay and others believe is genuinely in play.
For now, Smith remains focused on Ohio State. But the football world is already watching and waiting to see what comes next.