Awards
Caleb Downs wins the Jim Thorpe Award, but Jeremiah Smith gets snubbed from the Biletnikoff Award.
Four Buckeyes have taken the first step toward being named consensus All-Americans.
Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, linebacker Arvell Reese and safety Caleb Downs were all named first-team All-Americans on Friday by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, one of five selectors who will determine the consensus All-Americans for 2025.
Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin and defensive end Caden Curry were each named second-team All-Americans.
Ohio State is the only school with four first-team Walter Camp All-Americans.
2025 @waltercampFF All-America First and Second Teams --- the nation's oldest All-America team! https://t.co/7eED8be6eO pic.twitter.com/o8fcU09Qdr
— Walter Camp Football (@WalterCampFF) December 13, 2025
Smith earns first-team All-American honors after catching 80 passes for 1,086 yards and 11 touchdowns between the regular season and Big Ten Championship Game, becoming just the third receiver in Ohio State history with multiple 1,000-yard seasons.
Downs, who has a chance to become the sixth player in Ohio State history to earn unanimous All-American honors twice, leads Ohio State’s top-ranked defense from his safety position and has tallied 60 total tackles with five tackles for loss, two interceptions, two pass breakups and a sack this year.
McDonald has been a wrecking ball for the Buckeyes from the nose tackle position, recording 57 tackles with eight tackles for loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles.
Reese has made plays all over the field as Ohio State’s Mike linebacker, recording 62 tackles with 10 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and two pass breakups.
The Athletic and CBS Sports also named all four of Smith, McDonald, Reese and Downs as first-team All-Americans this week, while On3 also named Curry as a first-team All-Americans in addition to those four. The Athletic named Curry and linebacker Sonny Styles as second-team All-Americans, while On3 gave second-team nods to Styles and wide receiver Carnell Tate. Pro Football Focus named Smith, McDonald and Styles to its All-American team.
That said, the Walter Camp Football Foundation’s team is the first team announced among the five All-America teams that will determine this year’s consensus and unanimous All-Americans. The other four will all be announced next week, starting with the Associated Press on Monday, followed by the American Football Coaches Association (Tuesday), Sporting News (Wednesday) and Football Writers Association of America (Thursday).
