Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) catches a 47-yard touchdown pass in front of Ohio Bobcats cornerback Michael Mack II (9) during the second half of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium on Sept. 13, 2025. Ohio State won 37-9.
Jeremiah Smith WR Ohio State |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #4 ROLE: Outside X-Receiver | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.32 seconds (96%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #4 | |
| ROLE: Outside X-Receiver | |
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.32 seconds (96%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
95.0 / 100
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|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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78% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 142.2 | |
| Hands: |
|
90% |
| Short Receiving: |
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95% |
| Intermediate Routes: |
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95% |
| Deep Threat: |
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95% |
| Blocking: |
|
71% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
1st - Top 5
Overall Rank:
#1
Position rank:
#1 (WR)
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| College Games: 35 College Snaps: 1735 | ||
ESPN RATING: 92/100
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247 RATING: 101/100
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RIVALS RATING: 6.1 (100%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Marvin Harrison Jr. - Ohio State |
|
76% |
| Jayden Higgins - Iowa State |
|
64% |
| Rome Odunze - Washington |
|
61% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Smith came out of Chaminade-Madonna Prep in Florida as the No. 1 overall recruit of the 2024 class, the first receiver to top the 247Sports Composite since Dorial Green-Beckham. He won three straight state titles and earned Maxwell High School Player of the Year honors after an 88-catch, 1,376-yard, 19-touchdown senior season. He is a cousin of NFL quarterback Geno Smith.As a freshman in 2024, Smith caught 76 passes for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns during Ohio State's national championship run, setting FBS true-freshman records for receiving yards and scores, and was the Rose Bowl offensive MVP after a seven-catch, 187-yard day against Oregon.
In 2025 he led Ohio State with 87 receptions for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns, was a unanimous All-American and won a second straight Big Ten receiver of the year award. A strained quadriceps cost him the Rutgers game in November, and he closed the year with seven catches for 157 yards and a score in the Cotton Bowl quarterfinal loss to Miami.
Smith has 62 catches for 1,067 yards and 13 touchdowns through eight games of 2026. He caught eight passes for 164 yards in the 24-23 loss at Texas, then had 12 for 217 and four scores against Illinois, tying a school record, and 11 for 206 at Iowa, where he broke Ohio State's career records for receptions and receiving touchdowns. With Julian Sayin hurt, he caught 10 passes from freshman Luke Fahey in the 30-18 loss at USC.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Tall, powerful X target with rare top-end speed for his size
- Wins at all three levels, with 1,067 yards through eight games of 2026
- Strong hands, with just two drops on 87 targets this season
- Snaps off breaks with suddenness that belies his frame and stacks corners deep
- Tracks the vertical shot well and adjusts to throws outside his frame
- Physical after the catch, running through arm tackles on quick-game touches
- Answers marquee tests, with 164 yards at Texas and 206 at Iowa
- Owns Ohio State's career records for receptions and receiving touchdowns
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Perimeter blocking is willing, but the technique still needs refinement
- Crowded coverage slowed him at Indiana, holding him to 68 yards
- Underneath route detail still trails his polished outside-breaking work
Scouting Report: Summary
There is no projection question with Smith, only how quickly a staff hands him the offense. He is the best receiver prospect in this class by a wide margin and carries some Calvin Johnson-like traits: an X frame, rare top-end speed and a catch radius that lets him win when he is covered. He has topped 1,000 yards in each of his three seasons, and 2026 is on pace to be his best, with 1,067 yards and 13 touchdowns in eight games.What sets him apart is how few holes there are. He catches the ball cleanly, tracks the deep shot as well as anyone in the country and turns quick-game touches into chunk plays. He went for 164 yards in the loss at Texas, then 217 and four scores against Illinois and 206 at Iowa, where the Hawkeyes built their plan around him and he still won through contact at the catch point. Even with a freshman quarterback at USC after Julian Sayin was hurt, he caught 10 passes.
However, there are a few details left to clean up. His perimeter blocking is more willing than refined, and his underneath route detail trails his work on outside-breaking routes. Crowded coverage slowed him in the 19-15 win at Indiana, where he caught four passes for 68 yards, and the strained quadriceps that cost him a game in 2025 belongs on the medical sheet. None of it changes the projection.
Overall, Smith is a true X who can be isolated on the boundary or moved inside to find a matchup, and he has produced against the best teams on Ohio State's schedule. Teams that need a No. 1 receiver will not find a cleaner evaluation in this draft. He projects as a top-of-the-draft selection, a Week 1 starter and the foundation of an NFL passing game.
How other scouting services rate Jeremiah Smith (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
1.1
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
1.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.