When news broke on July 28, 2025, that Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith had been named to the 2025 Maxwell Award watch list, it signaled yet another milestone in what is already shaping up to be one of the most riveting storylines in college football. The Maxwell Award, after all, is reserved for the most outstanding player in the sport, a distinction that places Smith among elite company—and underscores just how far he has come since bursting onto the scene as a true freshman. According to Sports Illustrated, the announcement came early that Monday, with Ohio State officials confirming Smith’s inclusion among the top candidates anticipated to vie for the player-of-the-year honor in the upcoming season .
Smith’s inclusion is remarkable not only for his résumé but also for the rarity of a wide receiver receiving serious consideration for such an award. The last time a wide receiver won the Maxwell Award was in 2020, when DeVonta Smith from Alabama earned it during his Heisman Trophy run. If Jeremiah Smith were to win the Maxwell in 2025, he would become just the fourth wide receiver in the award’s history to do so, and the first Buckeye since the legendary Eddie George in 1995 . Ohio State, with four Maxwell winners in its history, would tie Alabama at five winners each—but still trail Penn State and Notre Dame, which have seven each .
Smith’s freshman season was nothing short of spectacular. He shattered Ohio State’s true freshman receiving records: 76 receptions, 1,315 receiving yards, and 15 touchdown catches, surpassing longtime marks set by Hall of Famer Cris Carter in 1984 . He led the Big Ten in receptions, yards, and touchdowns among all players, not just freshmen, and finished fourth nationally in receiving yards and tied for second in touchdown receptions .
His performances earned him a host of accolades: Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Big Ten Receiver of the Year, First-Team All-Big Ten, multiple All-American honors including first-team lists from USA Today and others, and Rose Bowl Offensive MVP for his standout showing in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal against Oregon, where he caught seven passes for 187 yards and two receiving touchdowns .
Perhaps the most dramatic moment came in the College Football Playoff National Championship game against Notre Dame. In a tight fourth quarter, with Ohio State’s lead whittled down to eight points, Smith hauled in a 56-yard catch on third-and-11—a play that essentially sealed the Buckeyes’ 34‑23 victory and gave them their first national championship in a decade . NFL evaluators have hailed that play and Smith’s overall trajectory as emblematic of a “generational” prospect, citing his rare blend of size, speed, technique, and instincts .
What makes this watch-list selection particularly significant is that wide receivers rarely receive attention for awards like the Maxwell or the Heisman; those honors often gravitate to quarterbacks or running backs. In 2025, Smith is firmly in the conversation, often listed among the top credible Heisman Trophy contenders from the season’s outset—alongside names like Arch Manning, Cade Klubnik, and Garrett Nussmeier. In fact, ESPN and FanDuel projected him tied for fourth-best odds entering the season, a rare show of confidence in a sophomore wideout .
Smith’s presence on the Maxwell list also follows his naming to several other award watch lists. He’s been included in preseason All‑American selections, the Biletnikoff Award watch list (for the nation’s top receiver), and the Walter Camp Player of the Year watch list. Ohio State’s official athletics site notes that he will be a favorite for all major offensive awards in 2025, which underscores the high expectations placed on him as one of the premier offensive weapons in college football .
Those expectations are well-founded. Entering summer practices, Ohio State awarded Smith the “Iron Buckeye” honor for a second straight year—a recognition given to players exhibiting elite discipline, toughness, work ethic, and leadership. He became the first freshman ever to earn that honor in school history, and doing it again as a sophomore clearly demonstrates his dedication and maturation as a role model within the program .
On the field, Smith is known for crisp route-running, elite body control, and explosive yards-after-catch ability. According to his youth coach, Smith was utterly obsessed with mastering new moves long before he reached high school—the type of obsessive discipline that’s now paying dividends on Saturdays . He reportedly reached 23.18 mph in practice, a mark only the fastest players ever hit, reinforcing his elite athleticism .
Fan reaction underscores the hype and belief among Buckeye supporters. On Land‑Grant Holy Land, a recent fan survey about bold predictions for 2025 showed many Ohio State fans expect Smith could win the Heisman Trophy—something exceedingly rare for a receiver—and pointed to his already established dominance and high ceiling . Meanwhile, NFL scouts and franchise executives have compared Smith to Hall of Famers like A.J. Green and Julio Jones, citing his fluid motion, exceptional ball skills, and overall upside—even at just 19 years old . One scout was quoted saying if Smith were draft‑eligible in 2025, he’d likely go in the top five, and potentially number one—an unheard-of projection for such a young player .
This Maxwell watch-list nod also spotlights broader storylines for Ohio State. The Buckeyes lost a dozen or more starters from their championship season, including pivotal offensive and defensive figures. Yet the return of a talent like Smith, coupled with other emerging stars like Caleb Downs and the ascension of new quarterback Julian Sayin, gives OSU fans reason to believe the program remains in elite form. Analysts, like those at Eleven Warriors, noted Smith as arguably the face of college football heading into 2025, with top-tier Heisman odds even amid those roster transitions .
As the season approaches, more watch lists and preseason honors are expected to follow. In 2024, Smith was already listed on the Biletnikoff Award watch list (for top receiver) and collected a slew of postseason awards across multiple outlets . In 2025, he’ll again headline preseason All-American teams—including Walter Camp honors—and his inclusion on the Maxwell list is only one part of a broader recognition wave .
Smith’s path reflects a combination of prodigious talent and an unrivaled level of professionalism for a young player. Hard work and attention to detail were instilled in him early—as chronicled by coaches from his childhood—setting the foundation for a performance that culminated in a national championship as a freshman and now puts him in position to chase college football’s highest individual honors . Meanwhile, his growth as a vocal leader has been encouraged by coaches like Brian Hartline and Ryan Day, who are helping him expand his presence into the locker room and off-field leadership roles as well as on-field excellence .
Ohio State’s official roster page describes Smith as the player who led OSU’s offense and who is poised to be the favorite for every major offensive award in 2025—including the Heisman, Biletnikoff, Walter Camp, and Maxwell Awards. It states explicitly that he shattered freshman records, received multiple All‑America and All‑Conference honors, and delivered one of the most memorable seasons in program history .
Having been celebrated by fans, analysts, coaches, and scouts alike, Smith’s place on the Maxwell Award watch list is as deserved as it is emblematic of his status: the nation’s best non-QB position player looking to crown his rise in 2025 with the award for the most outstanding player in college football.
Looking ahead, the eyes of the college football world will be on Jeremiah Smith throughout training camp, season openers, marquee matchups, and into the heart of the Big Ten schedule. Every touchdown catch, every clutch play, and every moment under pressure will be viewed through the lens of whether he can sustain the standard he set as a freshman—and whether he can become the rare wide receiver to top award watch lists and perhaps even win the Maxwell Award. In the process, he might just redefine what is possible from a wide receiver in the college game—blending record-smashing production, football IQ, athleticism, and leadership into a season that could end with his name etched onto the Maxwell Trophy.
As of July 28, 2025, Ohio State and its fans can take pride knowing that Jeremiah Smith is on the Maxwell Award watch list, standing among the most outstanding players in college football, with the rare opportunity to own the season in style.
