COLUMBUS, Ohio – The start of a new week brought another major national watch list that includes Ohio State’s Caleb Downs and Jeremiah Smith. Today, the Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List list includes both of those names, as it adds to a growing list of preseason recognition for the duo.
The 2025 Player of Year watch list will be narrowed to 10 semi-finalists in early November, and three finalists will be announced in early December. The 2025 Walter Camp Player of the Year recipient, which is voted on by the 133 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors, will be announced on ESPN’s College Football Awards Show on December 12.
Downs, a unanimous first team All-American last season, was the Tatum–Woodson Defensive Back of the Year and a finalist for the Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back. He’s widely regarded as the nation’s top defensive player in college football entering the 2025 season.
Smith set Ohio State freshman records for receptions (76), receiving yards (1,315) and touchdowns (15), was the Big Ten’s Thompson–Randle El Freshman of the Year and Richter–Howard Receiver of the Year. He was also a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award.
2025 Ohio State Preseason Honors
§ SAF Caleb Downs – Walter Camp Player of the Year; Pro Football Focus No. 2 College Player; Thorpe Award watch list; Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list; Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list; Preseason All-American (Walter Camp, Pick Six Previews, Phil Steele, Athlon’s); Big Ten Preseason Honors list
§ DT Eddrick Houston – Outland Trophy watch list
§ CB Davison Igbinosun – Thorpe Award watch list
§ TE Max Klare – Preseason All-American (Pick Six Previews); 2nd Team Preseason All-American (Phil Steele); 4th Team Preseason All-American (Athlon’s)
§ LB Arvell Reese – Butkus Award watch list
§ WR Jeremiah Smith – Walter Camp Player of the Year; Pro Football Focus No. 1 College Player; Preseason All-American (Walter Camp, Pick Six Previews, Phil Steele, Athlon’s); Biletnikoff Award watch list; Maxwell Award watch list; Big Ten Preseason Honors list (only unanimous selection)
§ LB Sonny Styles – 2nd Team Preseason All-American (Pick Six Previews, Phil Steele, Athlon’s); Butkus Award watch list; Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list; Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list; Big Ten Preseason Honors list
§ WR Carnell Tate – 2nd Team Preseason All-American (Athlon’s); 3rd Team Preseason All-American (Pick Six Previews); Biletnikoff Award watch list
§ OL Tegra Tshabola – 3rd Team Preseason All-American (Pick Six Previews); Outland Trophy watch list