June 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n\n\tWide receiver Jeremiah Smith leads the way as Ohio State\u2019s lone first-team selection. Steele also named Smith\u00a0his preseason National Offensive Player of the Year. Smith\u00a0was a unanimous All-American in 2025, as well as the Big Ten Receiver of the Year and a first-team all-conference\u00a0honoree, cementing his status as one of the most dominant returning players in college football.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tQuarterback Julian Sayin headlines the third-team group after a standout first season as a starter in which he became a Heisman Trophy finalist and earned second-team All-Big Ten honors. He\u2019s joined on the third team by left tackle Austin Siereveld and left guard Luke Montgomery, giving Ohio State notable representation along an offensive line that projects as one of the team\u2019s biggest questions entering 2026.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tFlorida State transfer safety Earl Little Jr. and UCF transfer long snapper Dalton Riggs round out the Buckeyes\u2019 selections with\u00a0fourth-team nods.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tThe six honorees underscore Ohio State\u2019s depth of elite talent heading into the fall, with impact players spread across both sides of the ball as preseason recognitions begin to roll in this summer.\n<\/p>\n