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Rob Rang
NFL Draft Analyst
The incomparable rivalry game that is Ohio State vs. Michigan features future first round NFL draft picks nearly every season.
And that is certainly the case this year, with a combined seven draft-eligible prospects from these teams featured in our latest 2025 mock draft.
What is unique, however, is the fact that the most talented prospect playing in The Game (noon ET on FOX) is actually not among the players in the mock draft.
That is because Ohio State wideout Jeremiah Smith, who turns 19 on Friday, is a true freshman. And per NFL rules, athletes must be three years removed from their high school graduating class to be eligible for the draft.
That is a shame, as Smith is already NFL ready and is widely viewed as a future first round pick. In fact, it is not hyperbole to suggest that Smith would be the first wide receiver selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, if he was eligible.
[Related: Inside Jeremiah Smith’s rise to stardom]
Boasting NFL-caliber size at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, Smith signed with Ohio State as a consensus five-star recruit and the No. 1 overall prospect on many boards. He complements his pro-ready size with track-star speed and soft hands, as well as refined route-running and a clear dedication to his craft. All of which have his head coach and offensive coordinator, not to mention NFL scouts traveling through Columbus, already shaking their collective heads in amazement.
“Sometimes you look at him, you don’t even think he’s quite human,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said on Aug. 31, after the celebrated rookie led the Buckeyes with six catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns in a scintillating college debut.
“He’s built different.”
But it isn’t “just” the way that Smith is built, according to the Buckeyes’ offensive coordinator Chip Kelly.
“His physical skills are kind of incomparable for someone at that age, but it’s his maturity level that has set him apart,”…
Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-football/why-ohio-state-jeremiah-smith-best-nfl-prospect-the-game
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Publish date : 2024-11-27 15:36:00
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