{"id":99058,"date":"2025-07-28T09:55:15","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T09:55:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/99058\/"},"modified":"2025-07-28T09:55:15","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T09:55:15","slug":"jeremiah-smith-caleb-downs-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/99058\/","title":{"rendered":"Jeremiah Smith, Caleb Downs and more"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/players\/2024\/REGPO\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jeremiah Smith<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pff.com\/ncaa\/players\/caleb-downs\/172375\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Caleb Downs<\/a> lead the way: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/teams\/2024\/REGPO\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Ohio State<\/a>\u2019s stars are the two best players in college football.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pff.com\/nfl\/players\/Drew-Allar\/164157\/draft-profile\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Drew Allar<\/a> is the best quarterback in the conference: <\/strong>The <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/teams\/2024\/REGPO\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Penn State<\/a> signal-caller is a top-five quarterback in the nation.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/subscribe.pff.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Subscribe to PFF+<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> Get access to player grades, PFF Premium Stats, fantasy football rankings, all of the PFF fantasy draft research tools and more!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Estimated reading time: <\/strong>5 minutes<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/subscribe.pff.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"256\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Black-option-1024x256.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-584528\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>With the 2025 college football season just a few weeks away, here\u2019s a look at PFF\u2019s preseason All-Big Ten team.<\/p>\n<p><strong>QB: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pff.com\/ncaa\/players\/drew-allar\/164157\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Drew Allar<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/teams\/2024\/REGPO\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Penn State<\/a><\/strong><br \/><strong>RB: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pff.com\/ncaa\/players\/nicholas-singleton\/164188\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Nicholas Singleton<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/teams\/2024\/REGPO\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Penn State<\/a><\/strong><br \/><strong>WR: <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/players\/2024\/REGPO\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jeremiah Smith<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/teams\/2024\/REGPO\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ohio State<\/a><\/strong><br \/><strong>WR: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pff.com\/ncaa\/players\/elijah-sarratt\/159499\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Elijah Sarratt<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/teams\/2024\/REGPO\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Indiana<\/a><\/strong><br \/><strong>WR: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pff.com\/ncaa\/players\/makai-lemon\/174150\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Makai Lemon<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/teams\/2024\/REGPO\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">USC<\/a><\/strong><br \/><strong>TE: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pff.com\/ncaa\/players\/max-klare\/162884\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Max Klare<\/a>,<a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/teams\/2024\/REGPO\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> Ohio State<\/a><\/strong><br \/><strong>LT: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pff.com\/ncaa\/players\/carter-smith\/156399\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Carter Smith<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/teams\/2024\/REGPO\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Indiana<\/a><\/strong><br \/><strong>LG: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pff.com\/ncaa\/players\/olaivavega-ioane\/164174\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Olaivavega Ioane<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/teams\/2024\/REGPO\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Penn State<\/a><\/strong><br \/><strong>C: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pff.com\/ncaa\/players\/iapani-laloulu\/174128\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Iapani Laloulu<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/teams\/2024\/REGPO\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Oregon<\/a><\/strong><br \/><strong>RG: <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/players\/2024\/REGPO\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Rocco Spindler<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/teams\/2024\/REGPO\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Nebraska<\/a><\/strong><br \/><strong>RT: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pff.com\/ncaa\/players\/gennings-dunker\/144859\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Gennings Dunker<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/teams\/2024\/REGPO\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Iowa<\/a><\/strong><br \/><strong>DI: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pff.com\/ncaa\/players\/zane-durant\/164166\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Zane Durant<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/teams\/2024\/REGPO\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Penn State<\/a><\/strong><br \/><strong>DI: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pff.com\/ncaa\/players\/aaron-graves\/156445\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Aaron Graves<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/teams\/2024\/REGPO\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Iowa<\/a><\/strong><br \/><strong>EDGE: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pff.com\/nfl\/players\/Mikail-Kamara\/138455\/draft-profile\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Mikail Kamara<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/teams\/2024\/REGPO\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Indiana<\/a><\/strong><br \/><strong>EDGE: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pff.com\/nfl\/players\/Dani-Dennis-Sutton\/164163\/draft-profile\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Dani Dennis-Sutton<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/teams\/2024\/REGPO\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Penn State<\/a><\/strong><br \/><strong>LB: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pff.com\/ncaa\/players\/sonny-styles\/162876\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Sonny Styles<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/teams\/2024\/REGPO\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ohio State<\/a><\/strong><br \/><strong>LB: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pff.com\/ncaa\/players\/bryce-boettcher\/163288\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bryce Boettcher<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/teams\/2024\/REGPO\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Oregon<\/a><\/strong><br \/><strong>CB: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pff.com\/ncaa\/players\/dangelo-ponds\/172259\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">D\u2019Angelo Ponds<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/teams\/2024\/REGPO\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Indiana<\/a><\/strong><br \/><strong>CB: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pff.com\/ncaa\/players\/aj-harris\/173534\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">A.J. Harris<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/teams\/2024\/REGPO\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Penn State<\/a><\/strong><br \/><strong>S: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pff.com\/ncaa\/players\/caleb-downs\/172375\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Caleb Downs<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/teams\/2024\/REGPO\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ohio State<\/a><\/strong><br \/><strong>S: <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/players\/2024\/REGPO\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Koi Perich<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/teams\/2024\/REGPO\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Minnesota<\/a><\/strong><br \/><strong>Flex-D: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pff.com\/ncaa\/players\/dillon-thieneman\/174971\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Dillon Thieneman<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/teams\/2024\/REGPO\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Oregon<\/a><\/strong><br \/><strong>K: <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/players\/2024\/REGPO\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Dominic Zvada<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/teams\/2024\/REGPO\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Michigan<\/a><\/strong><br \/><strong>P: <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/players\/2024\/REGPO\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Rhys Dakin<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/teams\/2024\/REGPO\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Iowa<\/a><\/strong><br \/><strong>RS: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pff.com\/ncaa\/players\/makai-lemon\/174150\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Makai Lemon<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/teams\/2024\/REGPO\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">USC<\/a><\/strong><br \/><strong>LS: <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/players\/2024\/REGPO\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Luke Basso<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/teams\/2024\/REGPO\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Oregon<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: WR <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/players\/2024\/REGPO\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jeremiah Smith<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/teams\/2024\/REGPO\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ohio State<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Smith came to Columbus as the highest-rated recruit from the 2024 class and the highest-rated wide receiver recruit in history. Suffice it to say, the <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/teams\/2024\/REGPO\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Florida<\/a> native faced sky-high expectations entering his true freshman season.<\/p>\n<p>And he lived up to them. Immediately.<\/p>\n<p>Smith was the most valuable receiver in college football in 2024, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pff.com\/news\/introducing-waa-a-metric-to-aid-in-player-evaluation\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">PFF WAA<\/a>. His 89.8 PFF receiving grade ranked third and is more than four points higher than any other returning wideout. He also led the Power Four with 15 receiving touchdowns while trailing only <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pff.com\/nfl\/players\/Tetairoa-McMillan\/158735\/draft-profile\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tetairoa McMillan<\/a> in receiving yards (1,311).<\/p>\n<p>Smith is an athletic freak at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds with an incredibly refined skill set for someone who turned 19 years old in November. He\u2019s the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pff.com\/news\/college-football-pff50-ranking-50-best-players-2025\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">best player in college football<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: S <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pff.com\/ncaa\/players\/caleb-downs\/172375\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Caleb Downs<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/premium.pff.com\/ncaa\/teams\/2024\/REGPO\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ohio State<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Downs would\u2019ve had the title of \u201cthe best player in the country\u201d if it weren\u2019t for his teammate. He\u2019s the top returning player at his position for the second year in a row, joining an exclusive list of players who have done so.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Players who were the top-returning player at their position for multiple years in PFF\u2019s rankings<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>All three of those players went on to become top-15 picks in their respective NFL drafts, an achievement that Downs seems poised to accomplish next April. In fact, he projects as the top player in the 2026 draft right now, as he\u2019s the best defensive player in the country.<\/p>\n<p>Downs, who transferred from Alabama last offseason, has been the most valuable safety in college football over the past two seasons, according to PFF\u2019s wins above average metric. His 91.7 PFF grade in that span is second among all FBS safeties, while his 91.2 coverage grade is third. Downs is also a fantastic run-defender with 35 run-defense stops and an 88.5 run-defense grade since 2023.<\/p>\n<p>Downs is an incredibly versatile player who can thrive at free safety, slot corner or in the box. Not to mention, he\u2019s a dynamic punt returner as well.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs lead the way: Ohio State\u2019s stars are the two best players in college&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":99059,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[1318,1317,1315,1316,62,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-99058","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-ncaa-football","8":"tag-football","9":"tag-ncaa","10":"tag-ncaa-football","11":"tag-ncaafootball","12":"tag-sports","13":"tag-united-states","14":"tag-unitedstates","15":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/114930261896073673","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99058","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=99058"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99058\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99059"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=99058"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=99058"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=99058"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}