“BUCKEYE DOMINANCE REIGNS: Jeremiah Smith, Caleb Downs Top PFF’s 2025 Rankings, Phil Steele Honors 11 Ohio State Stars, and Kelsey Mitchell Earns Third WNBA All-Star Nod”
The enduring dominance of Ohio State athletics continues to manifest itself in all corners of the sports world, as the latest wave of recognition makes abundantly clear. From the gridiron to the hardwood, Buckeye excellence is not just consistent—it’s increasingly overwhelming. The summer of 2025 has ushered in a storm of accolades that solidify Ohio State’s standing as a true powerhouse in both college and professional sports. The headlines are loud and clear: Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs lead the pack as Pro Football Focus unveils its Top 50 players for the 2025 college football season, Phil Steele stamps his seal of approval on 11 Buckeyes in his prestigious Preseason All-Big Ten team, and Kelsey Mitchell continues to carve out her legacy in the WNBA with a third All-Star selection. This convergence of honors serves as a stark reminder that Ohio State is not just producing elite athletes—it’s shaping generational talent.
Jeremiah Smith’s presence at the very top of PFF’s list is both remarkable and expected, a paradox that underscores just how rare a talent he truly is. As a true freshman in 2024, Smith didn’t merely live up to the hype—he surpassed it in ways that left analysts grasping for superlatives. Smith’s ability to dominate defensive backs, make acrobatic catches, and turn routine plays into highlight-reel moments made him an instant fan favorite and a nightmare for opposing secondaries. Entering his sophomore campaign, Smith is not just considered the best wide receiver in the country—he’s the face of college football. His blend of size, speed, hands, and IQ evoke comparisons to generational talents like Julio Jones and Calvin Johnson, and yet, many believe his ceiling might be even higher. That he’s already being compared to NFL All-Pros speaks volumes about the standard he’s set in just one season.
Right behind him is safety Caleb Downs, a player whose transfer to Ohio State shook the college football landscape and then paid immediate dividends. Downs is the embodiment of versatility and leadership in the secondary. His ability to read offenses, make open-field tackles, and cover elite receivers has transformed Ohio State’s defense into one of the most formidable units in the nation. What separates Downs isn’t just his athleticism or football IQ—it’s his relentless motor and unshakable confidence. The fact that both Smith and Downs sit atop PFF’s rankings speaks to a rare dual-threat leadership dynamic within the Buckeyes’ locker room. One commands respect on offense, the other on defense. Together, they represent the apex of talent and the soul of a team poised for national glory.
Phil Steele’s annual preseason honors are widely regarded as the gold standard of college football forecasting, and his recognition of 11 Buckeyes as All-Big Ten selections further validates the depth and breadth of talent in Columbus. Names like Emeka Egbuka, JT Tuimoloau, Jack Sawyer, and Donovan Jackson are not just elite—they’re seasoned veterans with NFL aspirations. The offensive line remains one of the most overlooked engines of success in football, and the inclusion of Donovan Jackson and Josh Fryar among Steele’s top selections reflects the formidable wall protecting quarterback Will Howard, the Kansas State transfer now steering the Buckeye offense. The All-Big Ten roster also includes rising stars on both sides of the ball, showcasing the pipeline of talent continually replenishing Ohio State’s depth chart.
This collection of accolades also signifies something larger than individual excellence—it’s a reflection of the program’s culture. Head coach Ryan Day and his staff have cultivated an environment where talent isn’t just discovered but maximized. Development, accountability, and an unwavering focus on the team’s goals remain the cornerstones of success. It’s why transfers like Caleb Downs can arrive and immediately make a seamless impact. It’s why five-star recruits like Jeremiah Smith can enter the program with sky-high expectations and still manage to exceed them. The coaching staff’s ability to balance a demanding system with a player-first mentality is perhaps the most underappreciated reason for Ohio State’s sustained excellence.
But the celebration of Ohio State greatness doesn’t stop with football. WNBA star Kelsey Mitchell’s third All-Star selection adds yet another dimension to the Buckeye legacy. Mitchell, who starred at Ohio State from 2014 to 2018, remains one of the most electrifying scorers in women’s basketball. Her rise in the WNBA has been nothing short of spectacular, consistently ranking among league leaders in points per game and establishing herself as a cornerstone of the Indiana Fever. What separates Mitchell is her fearlessness—a relentless drive to score, compete, and lead. Her presence in the All-Star Game is not just a personal achievement—it’s a reflection of Ohio State’s ability to prepare athletes for greatness at the next level.
Mitchell’s continued success also signals a broader recognition of Ohio State’s commitment to women’s athletics. The Buckeyes have invested heavily in developing a competitive and inclusive sports culture, one that empowers female athletes with the same resources and visibility afforded to their male counterparts. Mitchell’s accolades serve as a shining example for current and future Buckeyes, proving that elite women’s basketball careers can begin in Columbus and flourish on the national stage.
The convergence of these honors—PFF’s Top 50 led by two Buckeyes, Phil Steele’s All-Big Ten preseason selections, and Kelsey Mitchell’s All-Star nod—paints a holistic picture of Ohio State’s place in the modern sports landscape. This is not a program that shines only during Saturdays in the fall. This is a university where excellence is institutionalized, where every sport, every season, and every athlete is given the tools to reach their fullest potential. The synergy between football’s national prominence and the rising profile of its alumni across professional leagues is not a coincidence—it’s a testament to the vision and execution of the university’s athletic leadership.
Even more impressively, this flood of recognition has not bred complacency. In fact, it seems to have intensified the collective hunger within the Ohio State athletic community. For players like Smith and Downs, preseason accolades are appreciated but not defining. Their focus remains locked on the College Football Playoff, on beating Michigan, on hoisting another national championship trophy in January. For veterans like Kelsey Mitchell, All-Star selections are milestones, not endpoints. She continues to chase postseason success and inspire the next generation of WNBA stars. And for coaches and staff, the summer serves as a moment of validation—but also a reminder that the standard at Ohio State isn’t merely to be recognized. It’s to be remembered.
Looking ahead, the 2025 college football season promises to be a spectacle with Ohio State squarely in the spotlight. With Heisman-level talent on both sides of the ball, a deep roster honed by elite competition, and a coaching staff laser-focused on execution, the Buckeyes enter the season not just as contenders—but as favorites. Media outlets will speculate, rankings will fluctuate, and narratives will twist and turn, but one truth remains immovable: Ohio State is built differently. It’s a program fueled by pride, purpose, and a history that demands greatness.
As the summer rolls on and training camps ramp up, the echoes of these recognitions will no doubt reverberate through the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. Players will pin articles to lockers, coaches will use rankings as both motivation and measurement, and fans will rally behind the accolades that affirm what they already know—Ohio State is the gold standard. And yet, the truest measure of this program’s success won’t come from preseason lists or All-Star appearances. It will come from how they perform when it matters most—under the lights, in the fourth quarter, with everything on the line.
In a year already rich with promise and prestige, Ohio State is setting the tone early. With Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs leading the charge, with 11 players earning Big Ten honors before a single snap, and with legends like Kelsey Mitchell continuing to blaze trails at the highest levels, the Buckeye brand has never been stronger. It’s a testament not just to talent, but to tradition, to development, and to an unrelenting drive for greatness that shows no signs of slowing down. For fans in Columbus and beyond, 2025 is shaping up to be more than a season—it’s a statement. And the message is crystal clear: Buckeye dominance reigns.
