Joel Klatt picks Ohio State football player as his Heisman favorite

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While the Heisman Trophy has traditionally been an award that is geared towards quarterbacks, this could be the year that a non-QB — and specifically a wide receiver — could win the award. Who? Ohio State standout Jeremiah Smith.

16 of the last 20 Heisman Trophy winners have been quarterbacks, and while there's hope Smith can turn his junior season — and final year in college — into a Heisman Trophy type year, it shouldn't be expected. But according to college football analyst Joel Klatt, Smith would be the smart pick.

"If I have to be right, have to be right, I've got to take Jeremiah Smith," Klatt said during an appearance on Pardon My Take. "This could be a year where a player's body of work is respected enough — he should be up there. Does that always happen? No. … if you said, 'You have to be right, you have to bet your own money,' I would pick Jeremiah Smith because he is the best player in the sport."

Smith is coming off of a season in which he finished with 87 receptions for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns. He is a two-time All-American and has 163 receptions for 2,558 yards and 27 touchdowns, more than any other Big Ten receiver in their first two years of college.

So when you talk about 'body of work', there may not be a better resume than that of Smith's.

The biggest x-factor in all of this is his teammate, quarterback Julian Sayin. Assuming Smith has another All-American and Heisman Trophy-esque season, that likely means Sayin has another terrific year as well. And if the trends continue for the Heisman-winners, maybe it ends up with Sayin lifting the trophy when it's all said and done.

"Certainly that's going to be a part of it, and Julian went last year (too)," Klatt said about a potential split-vote between Sayin and Smith.

Smith, who was named the preseason Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year last week, is most certainly going to be one of the best players in the sport once again. He's been one of the most consistent and dominant players since he stepped foot on Ohio State's campus ahead of the 2024 season, and there's no doubt 2026 will be any different.

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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Joel Klatt picks Ohio State football player as his Heisman favorite

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