Jeremiah Smith has emerged as a standout player during his time at Ohio State, boasting 2,558 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns over two seasons. Given his performance, he is projected to be the first non-quarterback selected in the upcoming draft, potentially going as high as No. 1 overall, a feat not achieved by a wide receiver since Keyshawn Johnson in 1996.

Despite his impressive stats, drafting a receiver in the top five remains a contentious decision. Recent history shows that elite receivers must not only be productive in college but also dominate their competition. The article highlights crucial metrics that set apart top-10 wide receivers from those drafted later, including:

• Yards per route run: Top-10 WRs average 3.48, while picks 11-32 average 2.75
• Receiving grade: 90.0 for top-10 WRs compared to 82.2 for others
• Receiving yards/game: 109.5 vs. 89.6

The article introduces a Profile Score to evaluate receivers, with Smith scoring 10 out of 12, indicating he has answered many key questions about his ability.

As he prepares for his junior season, Smith's performance can solidify his status as a top pick. He has already demonstrated dominance and versatility on the field, but questions remain about his ability to excel in the NFL. Comparisons to Ja'Marr Chase and Marvin Harrison Jr. illustrate the challenge of projecting success.

Ultimately, Smith's final college season will be pivotal. He aims not just to prove he deserves a top-five selection but to show teams that passing on him could be a greater risk than drafting him.