Jeremiah Smith Could Break 30-Year NFL Draft Record

A long-standing NFL Draft pattern could finally be broken: no wide receiver has gone No. 1 since 1996. Ohio State junior Jeremiah Smith is the leading candidate to end that streak, with scouts pointing to a rare blend of size and speed. At 6-foot-4 and 222 pounds, Smith has produced through his first three collegiate seasons and, in 2026, leads the FBS near the top for receiving production: 52 catches for 984 yards and 12 touchdowns in seven games. He averages 18.9 yards per reception. Ohio State is No. 2 nationally and plays USC Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC, a key pre-draft test.