After having CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens around for some time, Caleb Downs knows a thing or two about top-tier WRs. However, when asked how his elite teammates compare to OSU teammate Jeremiah Smith, he couldn’t hold back the praise.

Downs recently sat down for a chat on The Pivot Podcast with former NFL running back Fred Taylor to talk about his transition to the league. And when he asked him how Smith compared to Lamb and Pickens, Downs’ answer oozing with confidence got the football world talking.

“[Jeremiah]’s right there. He’s there. That’s what I wanted to say,” Downs said before doubling down.

To hear a current pro say a 20-year-old college sophomore is already on the level of Lamb, who has a 1,749-yard NFL season under his belt, and Pickens, who just exploded for 1,429 yards and 9 touchdowns last year, is almost unheard of.

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Downs has the perfect perspective to make this kind of bold statement. He spent the 2024 and 2025 seasons trying to defend Smith during intense, iron-sharpening Ohio State practices. Now, at Cowboys training camp, he spends his days trying to stop proven NFL monsters, getting elite reps against Lamb and Pickens every day. He went on to break down exactly what makes each of these elite pass-catchers so special on the field.

He noted that Pickens has absolutely “crazy” ball skills for making wild, acrobatic catches. Meanwhile, he pointed out that Lamb is an incredible route-runner and just a perfect, complete football player. When it comes to Smith, Downs thinks he actually combines the absolute best of both worlds. He described the Buckeyes star as “freakishly athletic” while still possessing great overall football instincts.

Basically, he thinks Smith has the physical gifts and the smarts to dominate anything or anybody on his way.

This type of hype is only going to make NFL front offices drool as they look ahead to the 2027 draft. Smith was a unanimous All-American last year and is widely expected to be a top pick. Thanks to Downs’ comments, the pressure and excitement surrounding the young wideout are officially at an all-time high.

How Smith’s college stats compare to Lamb & Pickens

Jeremiah Smith is already putting together a special career at Ohio State, and his numbers show why NFL stars are comparing him to some of the league’s top receivers. Through his first two seasons (2024 and 2025), the 6-foot-4 wideout has recorded 163 catches, 2,558 receiving yards, and 27 touchdowns. Compared to CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens’ college numbers, Smith is already ahead of their pace.

CeeDee Lamb played three seasons for the Oklahoma Sooners from 2017 to 2019. He finished his college career with 173 catches, 3,292 yards, and 32 touchdowns. Smith is already close to those numbers despite playing one fewer season.

He only needs about 10 more receptions, 734 yards, and five touchdowns to match Lamb’s all-three-year production. The way things are going, it shouldn’t take much longer than Week 6, perhaps.

Smith is even further ahead of George Pickens. The former Georgia star played from 2019 to 2021 but finished with 90 catches, 1,347 yards, and 14 touchdowns. Injuries played a major role in limiting his production.

Smith nearly matched Pickens’ entire college yardage total during his freshman season alone, finishing 2024 with 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Now, Smith enters the 2026 season needing only nine more touchdowns to break Ohio State’s all-time receiving touchdown record.

If he keeps producing at this pace, Smith could be on his way to one of the greatest college careers ever by a wide receiver.