Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith rises in 2027 draft evaluations

Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith strengthened his standing as a leading prospect for the 2027 NFL Draft with a record-setting performance against Illinois, while drawing comparisons from former players and draft analysts to some of the NFL’s most accomplished receivers. The assessments are projections, however, and Smith’s eventual draft position and professional performance remain unknown. Ohio State beat Illinois 42-19 on September 26, with Smith catching 12 passes for 217 yards and four touchdowns. The figures were career highs in all three categories. The four scores tied Ohio State’s single-game receiving touchdown record, according to reports on the game. ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid ranked Smith first in his latest 2027 prospect rankings. Reid said his board was based on his scouting and conversations with NFL scouts. The ranking is an evaluation of the draft class at this stage, not a prediction of a confirmed selection order. Other analysts have used prominent NFL receivers as points of comparison. Nick Baumgardner compared Smith’s prospect profile to Julio Jones, citing their immediate impact in college and praising Smith’s work ethic.