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Rece Davis pitches Ohio State S Caleb Downs as No. 1 overall draft pick in 2026
By Paul Harvey
Published:
ESPN’s Rece Davis understands the 2025 NFL Draft is coming up this week, but he’s already thinking ahead to the 2025 college football season and the 2026 NFL Draft. In fact, he has one bold prediction involving a star contributor for Ohio State.
Admittedly, Davis understands his bold prediction is unlikely for a few reasons, but it doesn’t take away from what he believes about the star Buckeye:
“I know that this is insane and unlikely, positionally, but I’m going to say it anyway,” began Davis. “With the first pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, the — insert very bad team here — selects from Ohio State, safety Caleb Downs.”
“I would be onboard,” echoed NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller. “Best football player in the country next year. The best 2 football players in the country next year are both in Columbus, Ohio, so you guys will get your frequent flier miles there, I’m sure.”
The second part of Miller’s quote is undoubtedly a reference to Jeremiah Smith, the all-world receiver for Ohio State who delivered on the hype as a 5-star freshman for Ryan Day. Davis doubled down on Miller’s sentiment with a story about Smith’s game against Penn State when one scout went wild over the star prospect.
“Jeremiah Smith made a catch, and (the scout) said ‘Okay, he’s one overall right now, if I could draft him right now, he’s the one’,” Davis relayed.
As Davis himself admits, Downs going No. 1 overall is extremely unlikely, but not because of his own abilities. Teams traditionally zero in on star quarterbacks or elite pass rushers for the No. 1 overall pick, evidenced by Miami QB Cam Ward and Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter headlining the No. 1 pick odds at DraftKings for Thursday night.
Still, if Davis’s scenario were to play out for Downs, there would be a serious chance for the Buckeyes to produce back-to-back seasons with the top pick in the draft. Teams are reportedly already chomping at the bit for the chance to draft Smith with the top pick in 2027, with his all-world talent and elite work ethic already on display.
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
