Ohio State’s top wide receivers earned spots on the Biletnikoff Award watch list entering the 2025 season.
On Wednesday, the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation named Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate as candidates for the prestigious honor for pass catchers, positioning Ohio State to have its second Biletnikoff Award winner in three years and third all-time, following Terry Glenn in 1995 and Marvin Harrison Jr. in 2023.
4 & 17 earning Biletnikoff Award watch list selections
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 6, 2025
@Jermiah_Smith1 x @carnelltate_ pic.twitter.com/pZZtzm8sKl
Smith was one of 12 semifinalists for the award in 2024 but did not advance to the final three, which included Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona), Nick Nash (San Jose State) and eventual winner Travis Hunter (Colorado). Smith still turned in a stellar season, finishing with 76 catches for 1,315 yards and 16 total touchdowns, including 19 receptions for 381 yards and five scores during Ohio State’s national championship run.
Returning for his sophomore season in 2025, Smith is one of two favorites to win the Biletnikoff Award this fall, along with Ryan Williams (Alabama). Smith and Williams are cover stars for EA Sports College Football 26, appearing on both the standard and deluxe edition covers.
Tate took a backseat to Smith and Emeka Egbuka last season, collecting 52 catches for 733 yards and four touchdowns as Ohio State’s No. 3 wide receiver. With Egbuka now a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tate will look to establish himself as the Buckeyes’ No. 2 pass catcher behind Smith as he battles Max Klare, Brandon Inniss and others for targets.
Smith and Tate are the most recent Buckeyes to earn preseason honors. This week, Smith and safety Caleb Downs appeared on the Walter Camp Player of the Year watch list, while running back CJ Donaldson (Doak Walker Award) and long snapper John Ferlmann (Mannelly Award) also landed on watch lists.
Doak Walker Watch List Honors for 12 @Sp3Cj pic.twitter.com/ErUajbnSRG
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 6, 2025
.@FerlmannJohn earns Mannelly Preseason Watch List honors pic.twitter.com/JXG5ZzTcr7
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 5, 2025
The full list of Buckeyes who have been named to preseason watch lists so far:
- S Caleb Downs: Thorpe Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Lott IMPACT Trophy, Walter Camp Player of the Year
- DT Eddrick Houston: Outland Trophy
- CB Davison Igbinosun: Thorpe Award
- LB Arvell Reese: Butkus Award
- WR Jeremiah Smith: Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year, Biletnikoff Award
- LB Sonny Styles: Butkus Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Lott IMPACT Trophy
- RG Tegra Tshabola: Outland Trophy
- WR Carnell Tate: Biletnikoff Award
- RB CJ Donaldson: Doak Walker Award
- LS Max Ferlmann: Mannelly Award
