Fox Sports Makes Clear Choice Between Jeremiah Smith and Travis Hunter

Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith and Colorado’s Travis Hunter were two of the best wide receivers in college football this season.

Both were essentially unguardable. En route to a College Football Playoff National Championship Game, Smith finished fourth in the nation with 1,315 receiving yards and tied for second with 15 touchdown catches — all on just 76 receptions.

For Hunter, he recorded 96 receptions for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns at wide receiver while also playing nearly every defensive snap at cornerback. The junior’s stellar play earned him the school’s second-ever Heisman Trophy and numerous other awards.

But if Smith, a true freshman, was NFL draft-eligible this season like Hunter, who would get picked first?

Fox Sports NFL draft analyst Rob Rang created a first-round NFL mock draft that included all eligible players for 2025 and underclassmen.

Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith and Colorado’s Travis Hunter.

© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images, © Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Despite Hunter winning college football’s most prestigious award and being nearly two-and-a-half years older than Smith, Rang projected Smith to go No. 2 overall to the Cleveland Browns in his mock draft. Hunter wasn’t far behind, landing at No. 3 overall to the New York Giants.

Rang did have high praise for both players, but gave the nod to Smith. He even admitted, “Super blue-chip prospects like Colorado’s Travis Hunter or Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith should be in play” for the top pick.

“I can’t imagine Cleveland bypassing a ridiculous talent like Smith…” Rang wrote when discussing Smith to the Browns. “The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Smith is just different than any other non-NFL receiver, boasting exceptional physical traits and impressing scouts already with his commitment to improvement.”

This is what he had to say about Hunter to the Giants:

“Hunter is just too special to let fall further,” Rang added. “Can you imagine his versatility and Heisman flair on Broadway? He could be the receiver to help challenge and protect Malik Nabers, as well as the lockdown corner that turns a good defense into a great one.

Here’s Rang’s complete top five:

1. Tennessee Titans: Arch Manning, QB, Texas, RS FR
2. Cleveland Browns: Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State, FR
3. New York Giants: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado, JR
4. New England Patriots, Mason Graham, DT, Michigan, JR
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia, JR