Jeremiah Smith would be the no. 1 in the 2025 NFL draft

On By Littum

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Jeremiah Smith starred in Ohio State football Rose Bowl victory over Oregon on Wednesday.

It was one that reminded the entire college football world that he has two more years to cut up the defense, as he did Wednesday before he is eligible to turn pro and declare for the NFL draft. But if Buckeyes star wide receiver was eligible for the April draft, former NFL quarterback turned ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky believes he would be the consensus No. 1 overall.

“No. 1 pick, it wouldn’t even be close,” Orlovsky said on ESPN’s “Get Up” Thursday morning. “He’d easily be the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft. You’ll have teams in two years, for that ’27 draft, burning for him.”

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Ohio State has not had a player taken No. 1 overall in the NFL draft since the then-St. Louis Rams took Orlando Pace with the first pick in the 1997 NFL draft, per Pro Football Reference.

Smith got Buckeyes passing game that got going early against Oregon on Wednesday, with two touchdowns and 161 yards in the first half alone. He ended the night with 187 receiving yards and two scores on seven catches — breaking Chris Carter’s single-game receiving record by an Ohio State freshman wide receiver.

Orlovsky went on to praise Smith’s performance against the Ducks, comparing him to Julio Jones and Calvin Johnson, the latter of whom Orlovsky played with during his time with the Detroit Lions.

“He’s Julio Jones. His hips look like they’re in his armpits. He looks 6-foot-5 from his hips down. He reminds me of Julio Jones. His physical body reminds me a little bit of Calvin Johnson’s. He would easily go No. 1 in this year’s NFL draft.”

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Orlovsky isn’t the only one who has given Smith his flowers by saying he’s ready for the next level. After Wednesday’s game, Oregon coach Dan Lanning said the 6-foot-3 wide receiver is “NFL ready.”

“He’s so talented. He’s special,” Lanning said Wednesday.

According to the NFL, in order for a player to become eligible for the draft they need to “have been out of high school for three years” and “use up their eligibility before the start of the next college football season.” Smith is not eligible until the 2027 NFL draft, where he will likely compete with Alabama’s Ryan Williams for the first wide receiver off the board.

Smith and Ohio State will be back in action on Friday, Jan. 10 at 7:30 PM ET vs. No. 5 Texas in the CFP Cotton Bowl semifinals.