COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State will enter the 2026 season with plenty of expectations, and three Buckeyes are already being recognized among the best players in the country.
The Walter Camp Football Foundation named three Ohio State players to its 2026 Preseason All-America teams on Tuesday, with wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and offensive lineman Austin Siereveld earning first-team honors and quarterback Julian Sayin receiving second-team recognition.
For Smith, the preseason honors have become almost expected.
The junior wide receiver enters the season as one of the most recognizable players in the sport after a historic first two seasons in Columbus. Smith has totaled 2,558 receiving yards and 27 touchdown receptions through his first two years, the most by any Big Ten receiver during that span.
For quarterback Julian Sayin, the recognition reflects just how impressive his first season as Ohio State’s starter was.
Sayin started all 14 games for the Buckeyes in 2025, leading the nation with a 77.0 completion percentage while throwing for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns. He also became a Heisman Trophy finalist and set an Ohio State single-season record for completion percentage.
Now, the challenge for Sayin is different.
He is no longer entering the season as an unproven first-year starter replacing a veteran. He enters 2026 as one of the leaders of the team and one of the quarterbacks expected to compete among the best in the country.
The third Buckeye recognized by Walter Camp was offensive lineman Austin Siereveld, who earned first-team honors after emerging as one of Ohio State’s most reliable blockers. Siereveld enters the season with significant starting experience and has continued to receive preseason recognition from multiple outlets.
His inclusion is significant because offensive line play will be one of the biggest factors in determining Ohio State’s ceiling this season.
The Walter Camp selections reinforce the talent Ohio State will bring into the 2026 season.