The best player in college football in 2024 was pretty obvious. Travis Hunter, the two-way star at Colorado, dominated on both sides of the field. The first round NFL Draft pick won the Heisman Trophy and had a sensational season.
But who is the best player in the country in 2025 going to be?
Will Howard knows his pick.
The former Ohio State Buckeyes star, who led Ryan Day’s team to a national championship, beating Notre Dame in Atlanta, didn’t hesitate naming his pick in an interview with the NFL.
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In Will Howard’s mind, the best player in the country is pretty obvious.
It’s his former teammate at Ohio State.
Howard did not hesitate naming Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who is coming off a sensational true freshman season in Columbus, as the best player in the country for the 2025 college football season.
“Give me Jeremiah Smith,” Howard said when asked by the NFL who he thinks should appear on the cover of EA Sports College Football 26.
“Best player in the country right there, man.”
Who would you like to see on the @EASPORTSCollege cover this year? 👀 pic.twitter.com/FmBWh05PxY
— NFL (@NFL) May 26, 2025
The 6-foot-3 wide receiver had 76 catches for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns as a true freshman. He was arguably the most unstoppable player in the country.
And he’s got at least two more seasons of college football before heading off to the NFL Draft.
Ohio State’s offense will be loaded once again, so Smith probably won’t put up something crazy like 2,000 yards, but if the Buckeyes prioritized him, he easily could.
