Both Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs are the best players on the Ohio State football team. Quite frankly, both of them are the best players at their respective positions in the country. The Buckeyes have them both, and they have each been selected as preseason All-Americans.
Smith and Downs have both been selected as first-team All-Americans by Athlon Sports. It's not surprising that either of them are on that publication's All-American list. The Ohio State Buckeyes are one of the best teams in college football because they have both of those players.
Ohio State football players Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs earn preseason All-American selections
Downs transferred in from Alabama last season and immediately became the best player on defense. He was instrumental in the Buckeyes making the greatest four-game run in college football history en route to a national championship. He helped save the Texas game with some of his tackles, too.
Smith emerged as the best player in college football by the end of the College Football Playoff. He was someone that no one could stop during that run except for Texas. Ironically, that's who Smith will see in the first game of the 2025 season. It's unlikely he'll be shut down by the Longhorns again.
Since Ohio State has both of these players on the team again this year, they have a legitimate shot to repeat as national champions this season. Both of those players should be on every preseason All-American list this year, and they likely will be on those lists at the end of the season, too.
Last season, Downs finished the season with 81 tackles, six passes defended, and two interceptions. He also had a punt return for a touchdown against Indiana, which was the first punt return for a touchdown that the Buckeyes have had in a decade.
As a freshman, Smith had 76 catches for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns. He should only be better this year, even with a new starting quarterback and the attention of every defense that he will face throughout the year. He's just too good to be stopped.