After deep College Football Playoff runs season after season, Jeremiah Smith’s Ohio State enjoyed massive representation in the 2026 NFL Draft Day 1 in Pittsburgh. Three Buckeyes players were selected inside the top 10 and four in the top 11 overall picks. This marked the first time since 2021 that Alabama enjoyed three selections in the first 10 picks.
Here’s how the Buckeyes stacked the draft board:
- No. 4: Carnell Tate was drafted by the Tennessee Titans
- No. 5: Arvell Reese was drafted by the New York Giants
- No. 7: Sonny Styles was drafted by the Washington Commanders
- No. 11: Caleb Downs was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys
Ohio State, which has been a top-3 pipeline program for NFL talent, holds the record for most first-round picks in NFL Draft history. Seeing how NFL Draft unfolded on Thursday, NFL analyst Justin Spiro lauded the program on X:
“Ohio State is the best program in America and tonight is another example why.”
Smith, who is not part of the 2026 NFL Draft class because of eligibility concerns, echoed the sentiment by commenting the following reaction:
“💯”
Why Jeremiah Smith is Not Eligible for 2026 NFL Draft?
Jeremiah Smith has only played two seasons for Ohio State, meaning he still has a year to go before he can be eligible to be part of the NFL draft. As per the NCAA rules, a player must be three years removed from high school in order to be eligible for the draft. Smith was signed by Ohio State in 2024 and has since contributed massively to the program.
Had he been eligible, he would have been the first receiver off the 2026 NFL draft board. His eligibility has only thrown the can down for one more year, as he is expected to be WR1 in the 2027 NFL draft class, assuming nothing drastic happens in the 2026 college football season.
In just two seasons, Smith has already put many NFL scouts on notice with his tremendous display at the wide receiver position. In his freshman season, the wide receiver caught 76 receptions for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also rushed for 47 yards and one touchdown in six carries. He won Big Ten Freshman of the Year and a CFP national champion, while also finding a place in First-Team All-Big Ten.
This past season, Smith hauled in 87 receptions for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns. For the second straight year, he was named Big Ten Receiver of the Year and once again found a place in First-Team All-Big Ten.
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