Big Ten Media Days are finally here, and all of the fun preseason polling results have begun to come out. Coaches and players get to answer all of the hard-hitting questions from the media in Las Vegas to give us all something to talk about over the next five weeks. One of those talking points is the preseason honors from the Big Ten. Instead of doing the usual first-team, second-team, etc., the Big Ten just votes on honors.
Despite losing over a dozen to the NFL Draft, Ohio State earned three honorees, with one unanimous selection. The Buckeyes are tied with Penn State for the most from a single team.
Ohio State’s Three Big Ten Preseason Honors
The Best Player in College Football
Unsurprisingly, Jeremiah Smith was a unanimous selection. More surprisingly, he was the only unanimous selection.
As a true freshman, Smith burst onto the scene as one of the top players in the game. Leading his team to a national championship, the freshman phenom tallied 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns on 76 receptions, shattering Ohio State’s freshman receiving records. He has his eyes on Ohio State’s single-season and, even more ambitiously, career marks this year. He’s already 30th all-time in receiving yards, 23rd in touchdowns, and 41st in receptions. If he were to just copy/paste his productivity into 2025, he would be entering 2026 fifth in yards (only 238 from the record), tied for fourth in touchdowns (five away from the record), and seventh in receptions (53 away).
Smith is the odds-on favorite to take home the Biletnikoff Award as the top receiver in the nation and even has some Heisman hype. As a receiver, he will have to have an even better season and hope for some quarterbacks to have less inspiring seasons. Needless to say, Smith has some high expectations set for him, and he’s looking to surpass even the loftiest of goals.
The Best Defender in College Football
Last year’s Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year returns as one of the top defenders in all of college football. Caleb Downs took no time showing Ohio State that he was the real deal and that his 2023 performance for Alabama was no fluke. In 16 games, Downs amassed 82 tackles, eight tackles for loss, six pass breakups, and two interceptions. One of those interceptions clinched the Buckeyes’ win over Texas in the Cotton Bowl. And, despite the loss, Downs did his part against Michigan with his only double-digit-tackle performance of the year and an interception.
Off the statsheet, Downs has shown why he is in consideration to be the top non-quarterback on the board in the 2026 NFL Draft. His instincts are NFL-ready already, and he has the range of a center field-type of safety. Downs is as sure of a tackler as any. When he triggers in run defense and comes downhill, good luck escaping his grasp.
Downs was a unanimous All-American and a finalist for the Nagurski, Thorpe, and Lott IMPACT Awards. It’s safe to assume his name will be all over the preseason watchlists over the next few weeks.
Kicking off 2025 in Styles
From being thrust into the limelight as a freshman to changing positions and winning a starting job, Sonny Styles looks like he can be the next great linebacker from Ohio State. Initially a safety, Styles stepped up in 2023 due to injury and totaled 53 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble. Then, Downs transferred in, and Styles moved down to linebacker, winning the job over C.J. Hicks (who is now an EDGE).
As a full-time linebacker, Styles took a massive step. In 16 games, he contributed 100 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, six sacks, five pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. He could have been one of the many Buckeyes to jump to the NFL and test his way into a day two selection. Instead, he elected to return, further develop his craft, and become one of the top linebackers in the class.
With Cody Simon’s graduation, Styles becomes the leader in the linebacker room under new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia. Look for him to take another step forward in 2025 and be in contention for some postseason hardware.
The Rest of the Big Ten Preseason Honorees
- QB Luke Altmyer, Illinois
- QB Drew Allar, Penn State
- RB Nicholas Singleton, Penn State
- OT Gennings Dunker, Iowa
- C Logan Jones, Iowa
- DL Mikail Kamara, Indiana
- DE Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State
- OLB Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon
- OLB Gabe Jacas, Illinois
- DB D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana
- DB Koi Perich, Minnesota
- DB Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
Main Image: Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch
