Ohio State Buckeyes receiver Jeremiah Smith's first two seasons in College Football have set him up to make a lot of money in the NFL someday soon. FOX Sports' Joel Klatt believes Smith is a top-four draft pick. As in, he'd be a top-four pick if every college player were in the draft pool.
Klatt had three quarterbacks ahead of Smith: the Indiana Hoosiers' Fernando Mendoza, the Oregon Ducks' Dante Moore, and the Texas Longhorns' Arch Manning. Per On3's Griffin McVeigh, "The first non-quarterback should come as no surprise. Smith has been considered the best player in college football, regardless of position, for a little while now. His ability as an underclassman showed out every week. And Ohio State must be thrilled to have Smith back. A school known for producing wide receivers, Smith might be the best to come through Columbus."
In light of Jaxon Smith-Njigba's recent record-breaking extension, it's fair to say that the Ohio State University is quickly becoming "WRU." Some would say that the Buckeyes already are "WRU" over SEC mainstays like the Alabama Crimson Tide and LSU Tigers.
Smith will undoubtedly be the next. His athletic gifts are undeniable. Who will be the next Buckeye up after that, though?
Chris Henry Jr. could be Jeremiah Smith's successor as WR1 at 'WRU'
The most obvious WR1-in-the-wings in Columbus is freshman Chris Henry Jr., who comes in as the crown jewel of Ohio State's No. 4 2026 recruiting class. Henry has the height, reach, and hops to become an elite deep threat and red zone offense.
All Henry needs to do to have staying power is committing effort to blocking downfield. In Arthur Smith's schemes, it's not difficult to imagine him falling in love with that aspect of the game. He'll have to in order to get snaps.
If all the planets align, and Henry shows promise across the board, Brian Hartline's pipeline will have struck again. Of course, maintaining that excellence is the key. Luckily, the 2026 class has depth, with Jerquaden Guilford potentially offering another future NFL WR1, and the multi-positional Legend Bey, who will line up outside on occasion.