A half-dozen Buckeyes are Phil Steele preseason All-Americans.
In his annual magazine previewing all 136 FBS programs, Steele named six Ohio State players preseason All-Americans, with the Buckeyes again well-represented across multiple position groups entering the 2026 season.
6️⃣ Buckeyes land on the Preseason All-American list
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) June 11, 2026
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Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith leads the way as Ohio State’s lone first-team selection. Steele also named Smith his preseason National Offensive Player of the Year. Smith was a unanimous All-American in 2025, as well as the Big Ten Receiver of the Year and a first-team all-conference honoree, cementing his status as one of the most dominant returning players in college football.
Quarterback Julian Sayin headlines the third-team group after a standout first season as a starter in which he became a Heisman Trophy finalist and earned second-team All-Big Ten honors. He’s joined on the third team by left tackle Austin Siereveld and left guard Luke Montgomery, giving Ohio State notable representation along an offensive line that projects as one of the team’s biggest questions entering 2026.
Florida State transfer safety Earl Little Jr. and UCF transfer long snapper Dalton Riggs round out the Buckeyes’ selections with fourth-team nods.
The six honorees underscore Ohio State’s depth of elite talent heading into the fall, with impact players spread across both sides of the ball as preseason recognitions begin to roll in this summer.
