Skull Session: Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs Lead PFF’s Top 50 Players in 2025, Phil Steele Names 11 Buckeyes Preseason All-Big Ten and Kelsey Mitchell Earns Her Third All-Star Bid

By Chase Brown on July 7, 2025 at 5:00 am
Jeremiah Smith
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch
12 Comments

Welcome to the Skull Session.

I hope everyone had a great Fourth of July weekend!

Have a good Monday.

 THE BEST OF THE BEST. For the past week, Pro Football Focus has counted down its top 50 players entering the 2025 college football season. It took some time for an Ohio State player to appear on their list – in fact, it took until the final day – but the Buckeyes made their show of force with the top two players on the list: Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs.

No. 1 - Jeremiah Smith

For the second time ever, and the first since Trevor Lawrence in 2019, a true sophomore leads this list. Smith came to Columbus as the highest-rated recruit from the 2024 class and the highest-rated wide receiver recruit in history. Suffice it to say, the Florida native faced sky-high expectations entering his true freshman season.

And he lived up to them. Immediately.

Smith was the most valuable receiver in college football in 2024, according to PFF WAA. His 89.8 PFF receiving grade ranked third and is more than four points higher than any other returning wideout. He also led the Power Four with 15 receiving touchdowns while trailing only Tetairoa McMillan in receiving yards (1,311).

Smith is an athletic freak at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds with an incredibly refined skill set for someone who turned 19 years old in November. 

No. 2 - Caleb Downs

While the 2025 NFL Draft decimated Ohio State's championship-winning roster, the team still has the two best players in college football. Downs is the top returning player at his position for the second year in a row, joining an exclusive list.

Lawrence, Stingley and Bowers went on to become top-15 draft picks, an achievement that Downs seems poised to accomplish next April. He projects as the top player in the 2026 NFL Draft right now as the best defensive player in college football.

Downs, who transferred from Alabama last offseason, has been the most valuable safety in college football over the past two seasons, according to PFF WAA. His 91.7 PFF overall grade in that span ranks second among FBS safeties, and his 91.2 PFF coverage grade places third. Downs is also a fantastic run defender, leading all players on this list in run-defense stops (35) and PFF run-defense grade (88.5) since 2023.

Downs is an incredibly versatile player who can thrive at free safety, at slot cornerback or in the box. He is a dynamic punt returner, as well.

Is it good to have the No. 1 and No. 2 players in college football?

That sounds good!

 I LIKE THEM B1G. While Smith and Downs were the only Ohio State players named in PFF’s top 50, 11 Buckeyes appeared in Phil Steele’s preseason All-Big Ten teams for 2025. 

Smith and Downs were the headliners, of course, but joining them were Max Klare and Sonny Styles on the first team; Carnell Tate, Tegra Tshabola and Eddrick Houston on the second team; and James Peoples, Ethan Onianwa, Arvell Reese and Davison Igbinosun on the third team.

First Team

  • Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith
  • Tight end Max Klare
  • Linebacker Sonny Styles
  • Safety Caleb Downs

Second Team

  • Wide receiver Carnell Tate
  • Offensive lineman Tegra Tshabola
  • Defensive lineman Eddrick Houston

Third Team

  • Running back James Peoples
  • Offensive lineman Ethan Onianwa
  • Linebacker Arvell Reese
  • Cornerback Davison Igbinosun

All of the players Steele named feel like All-Big Ten candidates this season. However, I think he missed one – that is, if he wins a position battle this fall (and I expect him to): Austin Siereveld.

Credit to CDubb for the reminder that Siereveld is one of two Buckeyes to be named an Iron Buckeye in the spring and earn multiple Dude of the Week awards in the summer. 

The other?

Smith.

At some point, I would expect Styles to join that duo in the honor, but that only adds to Siereveld’s impressive offseason strides, as Styles is the clear frontrunner to be Ohio State’s Block O recipient this fall.

So, that is… one of the EA Sports College Football 26 cover stars, Ohio State’s probable Block O recipient and… Siereveld.

If that doesn’t point to All-Big Ten potential, I don’t know what does!

 ALL THE STARS. For the third time in her eight-year WNBA career, Kelsey Mitchell is an All-Star.

The former Ohio State star will join her Indiana Fever teammates Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 18 and 19 for the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game. Clark will be an All-Star Game captain, along with Minnesota Lynx guard Napheesa Collier, while Boston will be a starter. Mitchell was one of 12 players named as reserves for the exhibition, along with Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum, Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese and more.

Mitchell has averaged 19.3 points per contest this season and has scored at least 10 points in each of the Fever’s 18 games. On May 28, Mitchell eclipsed 4,000 career points, becoming the fifth fastest player in WNBA history to accomplish that feat at 238 appearances. Almost one month later, on June 27, Mitchell surpassed 500 career rebounds, making her the fourth fastest player in WNBA history to reach 4,000 points, 500 rebounds, 500 assists and 500 3-pointers made.

In other words, Mitchell’s a baller – and she’s been one for a long, long time.

From 2014-18, Mitchell dominated at Ohio State, collecting 24.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game as a four-time All-American and three-time Big Ten Player of the Year. The Cincinnati native and Princeton High School graduate also led the Buckeyes to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including two Sweet 16 appearances.

As I said before, Mitchell’s a baller, and in less than two weeks, she’ll show off her talents with the WNBA’s best for the third consecutive season.

 BAN NOON KICKOFFS. It’s the rallying cry of every Ohio State diehard who’s rolled out of bed at 8 a.m. for a tailgate that deserved the under-the-lights treatment. The Ban Noon Kickoff tee is more than just a shirt – it’s a protest, a lifestyle, and a wardrobe essential for fans who believe the Ohio State vs. Texas game belongs in primetime.

Designed for comfort and built to spark conversation, this premium tee from Eleven Warriors Dry Goods makes your stance crystal clear: college football is better when the sun is setting and the stakes are rising. Whether you're in the Shoe, at the tailgate, or yelling at the TV from your living room, this shirt lets the college football world know – noon kickoffs are not it.

Join the movement. 

Ban Noon Kickoffs*.

*Except for The Game

 SONG OF THE DAY. “All the Stars” – Kendrick Lamar and SZA.

 CUT TO THE CHASE. Strawberries and pasta? Iga Swiatek’s unique Wimbledon tradition… A classical drive: Road rumble strips play Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in UAE emirate of Fujairah… The Best Beefs of the 21st century, ranked… How to Save a Dog… Learning to love my first budget – but not too much.

12 Comments

2026 Michigan Cornerback Commit Dorian Barney: “I Will Not Lose to Ohio State”

Dorian Barney

Ohio State’s Depth, Variety of Edge Rushers Give Matt Patricia Options to Be Creative with Pass Rush in 2025

C.J. Hicks working on pass-rush drills with Larry Johnson
View 12 Comments