Ohio State has three unanimous All-Americans in the same season for the first time ever.
Jeremiah Smith, Caleb Downs and Kayden McDonald all became unanimous All-Americans on Thursday when they were named first-team All-Americans by the.Football Writers Association of America.
Downs, McDonald and Smith were also named first-team All-Americans by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association and Sporting News, giving them all five first-team nods they needed to become unanimous All-Americans.
It’s also the first time Ohio State has ever had four consensus All-Americans. Arvell Reese joins Downs, McDonald and Smith as a consensus All-American after being named a first-team All-American by Walter Camp, the AP and the AFCA. Reese was named a second-team All-American by Sporting News and the FWAA.
Downs, who was also a unanimous All-American last year, becomes the sixth two-time unanimous All-American in Ohio State history, joining Marvin Harrison Jr. (2022-23), Orlando Pace (1995-96), Archie Griffin (1974-75), Bob Ferguson (1960-61) and Howard “Hopalong” Cassady (1954-55).
Smith and McDonald become the 35th and 36th different Ohio State players to earn unanimous All-American honors. Smith is just the second Ohio State wide receiver to be a unanimous All-American, joining Harrison. McDonald is just the second Ohio State defensive tackle to be a unanimous All-American, joining Jim Stillwagon.
| Year | Player | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | JEREMIAH SMITH | WIDE RECEIVER |
| 2025 | KAYDEN MCDONALD | DEFENSIVE TACKLE |
| 2025 | CALEB DOWNS | SAFETY |
| 2024 | CALEB DOWNS | SAFETY |
| 2023 | MARVIN HARRISON JR. | WIDE RECEIVER |
| 2022 | MARVIN HARRISON JR. | WIDE RECEIVER |
| 2020 | WYATT DAVIS | GUARD |
| 2019 | CHASE YOUNG | DEFENSIVE END |
| 2019 | JEFF OKUDAH | CORNERBACK |
| 2017 | BILLY PRICE | CENTER |
| 2016 | PAT ELFLEIN | CENTER |
| 2016 | MALIK HOOKER | SAFETY |
| 2014 | JOEY BOSA | DEFENSIVE END |
| 2007 | JAMES LAURINAITIS | LINEBACKER |
| 2006 | TROY SMITH | QUARTERBACK |
| 2005 | A.J. HAWK | LINEBACKER |
| 2004 | MIKE NUGENT | KICKER |
| 2002 | MIKE DOSS | SAFETY |
| 1998 | ANTOINE WINFIELD | CORNERBACK |
| 1996 | ORLANDO PACE | OFFENSIVE TACKLE |
| 1995 | EDDIE GEORGE | RUNNING BACK |
| 1995 | ORLANDO PACE | OFFENSIVE TACKLE |
| 1987 | CHRIS SPIELMAN | LINEBACKER |
| 1987 | TOM TUPA | PUNTER |
| 1984 | KEITH BYARS | RUNNING BACK |
| 1977 | CHRIS WARD | OFFENSIVE TACKLE |
| 1975 | ARCHIE GRIFFIN | RUNNING BACK |
| 1974 | ARCHIE GRIFFIN | RUNNING BACK |
| 1973 | JOHN HICKS | GUARD |
| 1973 | RANDY GRADISHAR | LINEBACKER |
| 1970 | JACK TATUM | SAFETY |
| 1970 | JIM STILLWAGON | NOSE TACKLE |
| 1968 | DAVE FOLEY | OFFENSIVE TACKLE |
| 1961 | BOB FERGUSON | FULLBACK |
| 1960 | BOB FERGUSON | FULLBACK |
| 1956 | JIM PARKER | GUARD |
| 1955 | HOWARD "HOPALONG" CASSADY | HALFBACK |
| 1954 | HOWARD "HOPALONG" CASSADY | HALFBACK |
| 1950 | VIC JANOWICZ | HALFBACK |
| 1945 | WARREN AMLING | GUARD |
| 1944 | LES HORVATH | QUARTERBACK/HALFBACK |
| 1930 | WES FESLER | END |
Smith earns unanimous All-American honors after catching 80 passes for 1,086 yards and 11 touchdowns in Ohio State’s first 13 games, living up to the preseason hype of being one of college football’s best players.
Downs is a unanimous All-American for the second straight year as he’s led the way for Ohio State’s defense to be the best in the country for a second consecutive season. The junior safety has made 60 tackles, five tackles, a sack, two interceptions and two pass breakups through 13 games.
McDonald is a unanimous All-American as a first-year starter as he’s been a dominant force on Ohio State’s interior defensive line, recording 57 tackles with eight tackles for loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles.
Reese is also a consensus All-American as a first-year starter as he’s been a breakout superstar at middle linebacker, recording 62 tackles with 10 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and two pass breakups.
Collectively, seven different Ohio State players earned first-team All-American honors for the 2025 season, tying the program record. Sonny Styles was named a first-team All-American by Sporting News and Pro Football Focus, Carson Hinzman was named a first-team All-American by the AFCA and Caden Curry was named a first-team All-American by On3.
