COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Multiple Ohio State Buckeyes players have claimed individual awards from the Big Ten for their play this season.
The Big Ten announced its individual award winners and one of them was standout Buckeyes receiver Jeremiah Smith. The freshman received the award for the best first-year player and was named the best receiver in the newly expanded 18-team conference.
The 19-year-old from Florida had the best freshman year a Buckeye receiver has ever had setting a program record with 10 touchdowns. This is the third straight year a Buckeye receiver was named the best in the Big Ten after Marvin Harrison Jr. won the award the last two seasons.
Smith is the first Buckeyes freshman to claim the best first-year player award since C.J. Stroud in 2021. Other notable Ohio State freshman to win the award include Mike Weber, J.T. Barrett, and Braxton Miller. 8 offensive players for Ohio State received all-conference team honors.
On the defensive side of the ball, transfer safety Caleb Downs won the Big Ten defensive back of the year. The ex-Alabama player transferred to Ohio State and played a vital role for the top-scoring defense in college football. Downs was one of seven OSU defenders named to the first, second, or third all-conference teams.
Downs’ versatility also helped on special teams with the sophomore returning a punt for a touchdown against Indiana. Downs is just the second Buckeye to win the defensive back award, joining Shaun Wade. He’s also the first safety to win the award since Antoine Winfield Jr. of Minnesota in 2019.
2024 Big Ten award winners
- Offensive player of the year: QB Dillon Gabriel (Oregon)
- Defensive player of the year: DE Abdul Carter (Penn State)
- Coach of the year: Curt Cignetti (Indiana)
- Freshman of the year: WR Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State)
- Quarterback of the year: Dillon Gabriel (Oregon)
- Running back of the year: Kaleb Johnson (Iowa)
- Receiver of the year: Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State)
- Tight end of the year: Tyler Warren (Penn State)
- Offensive lineman of the year: Aireontae Ersery (Minnesota)
- Defensive lineman of the year: Abdul Carter (Penn State)
- Linebacker of the year: Jay Higgins (Iowa)
- Defensive back of the year: Caleb Downs (Ohio State)
- Kicker of the year: Dominic Zvada (Michigan)
- Punter of the year: Eddie Czaplicki (USC)
- Return specialist of the year: Kaden Wetjen (Iowa)
Buckeyes selected to All-Big Ten teams
- First team: WR Jeremiah Smith, OL Seth McLaughlin, OL Donovan Jackson, DT J.T. Tuimoloau, LB Cody Simon, DB Caleb Downs, DB Lathan Ransom
- Second team: DE Jack Sawyer, LB Sonny Styles
- Third team: QB Will Howard, RB TreVeyon Henderson, RB Quinshon Judkins, WR Emeka Egbuka, OL Josh Simmons, DL Tyleik Williams
- Honorable mentions: OL Josh Fryar, OL Tegra Tshabola, DT Ty Hamilton, CB Jordan Hancock, CB Davison Igbinosun, LS John Ferlmann
Ohio State will not play for a Big Ten championship after falling to Michigan 13-10 at Ohio Stadium. The fourth straight loss for the Buckeyes against the Wolverines ended with a midfield brawl between players from both teams. Oregon will face Penn State in the Big Ten final Saturday at 8 p.m. with the winner clinching a top-two seed in the College Football Playoff.
The Buckeyes will drop in the playoff rankings Tuesday night but are expected to still qualify for the postseason. Ohio State will play a first-round game on Dec. 20 or 21 in Columbus or on the road. The 12-team playoff bracket will be announced Sunday at noon.