​The Heisman Trophy has been handed out every year since 1935, yet across its 91-year history there have been only four wide receivers chosen to receive the honor. In the last six seasons, however, there have been two winners at the position. With that context in mind, could another receiver be circling the horizon and poised to claim the prestigious award? All eyes appear to be trained on Ohio State standout Jeremiah Smith.
Smith has already established himself as one of the most decorated players at wide receiver, earning two All-American honors in his first two collegiate seasons. Through his two-year career, he has accumulated 163 receptions for 2,558 yards and 27 touchdowns, a stat line that leads all Big Ten receivers in their first two years of college football. He has already claimed a College Football Playoff national championship and amassed numerous other accolades—yet the Heisman Trophy remains elusive.
As Smith approaches his third year with the Buckeyes, he enters the season as a preseason favorite in many observers’ minds. After finishing last season tied for sixth in Heisman voting, he again sits in the preseason rankings, according to Phil Steele. Among Steele’s top-10 list, Smith is the premier non-quarterback, though he trails his own teammate, quarterback Julian Sayin, who sits at No. 5. Also listed ahead of him are Arch Manning, Dante Moore, CJ Carr, and Trinidad Chambliss.
Is that ranking too modest? Smith embodies the archetype of the ideal receiver who seems almost Madden-made in stature. At 6-foot-3 with long arms and a 223-pound frame, he presents a matchup nightmare for defensive backs who struggle to stay with him one-on-one. His size makes him a formidable force in jump-ball situations, and his reported 38-inch vertical, 23.5 mph sprint speed, and 4.32-second 40-yard dash are a testament to the athletic ceiling that helped him top Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List entering last year.
So why hasn’t he risen higher in the Heisman conversation? The position may be the limiting factor. Over the past two decades, 16 of 20 Heisman winners have been quarterbacks, which means a receiver like Smith faces an uphill climb even with a standout junior and potentially record-breaking season. If he can deliver another All-American year, that would likely correlate with an equally strong supporting performance from Julian Sayin and the Buckeyes’ offense. If trends in the Heisman landscape continue, the trophy could very well tilt toward Sayin in the end, though Smith’s trajectory clearly keeps him very much in the mix.
Nonetheless, don’t overlook the fact that there is no player in college football more skilled than Jeremiah Smith. He has demonstrated elite ability, dominance in the XL size category, and the rare combination of height, weight, speed, and ball skills that, under the right circumstances, could propel him into Heisman contention during his junior season.
For ongoing Ohio State coverage, follow Buckeyes Wire on Twitter at @BuckeyesWire and like our page on Facebook to stay updated with news, notes, and analysis. This recap originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Is Jeremiah Smith too low in Phil Steele’s preseason Heisman rankings? and serves to augment the broader conversation about Heisman potential for a receiver in today’s college game.