‘Absolutely the Best Player in Our Sport’ — Joel Klatt Makes Feelings Clear on Jeremiah Smith’s Quest for Heisman Trophy

Jeremiah Smith has spent the first half of the season rewriting Ohio State’s record book while emerging as a central figure in the Buckeyes’ push for the College Football Playoff.

Talking on a podcast three days before Ohio State (5-1, 3-0 Big Ten) visits unbeaten Indiana, Joel Klatt also spoke highly of a Buckeyes defense that lost four players among the first 36 picks of April’s NFL draft, and of defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, while also reiterating his support for Jeremiah Smith as his Heisman Trophy pick.

Joel Klatt Calls Jeremiah Smith The “Best Player” In CFB

While discussing which team would make it to the CFP between Texas and Ohio State, Klatt picked the Buckeyes because they have played more consistently.

He pointed to Ohio State’s efficiency on both sides of the ball, especially its defense, which has remained among the nation’s best despite losing four players who were selected within the first 36 picks of the NFL Draft. Klatt also credited defensive coordinator Matt Patricia for helping maintain that level of play, and then brought the main point up:

“They still have the cheat code best player in America, and to me, he has to win the Heisman Trophy, in Jeremiah Smith, because he’s absolutely the best player in our sport,” Klatt said.

Smith caught only four passes in a 45-16 win over Maryland, his fewest in a game this season, but he still turned them into 93 yards and two touchdowns.

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Pro Football Network’s CFB WR Impact Grade has Smith at 96.6 this season, second of 602 qualified FBS wide receivers.

Klatt has weighed Smith’s place in Ohio State history before. Earlier this month on “The Joel Klatt Show”, he said Smith may be entering the conversation as the greatest Buckeye ever, though he said he could not yet rank him ahead of Archie Griffin, the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner, and Orlando Pace.

Klatt said that if Smith wins the Biletnikoff Award and the Heisman, with a national championship from his freshman season already on his resume, the question of the greatest Buckeye would come down to Smith or Pace.

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Ohio State’s lone loss came Sept. 12 at Texas, where the then-No. 1 Buckeyes led 23-3 in the third quarter before the Longhorns scored 21 points in the fourth to win 24-23.

Ahead of Saturday’s trip, PFN’s College Football Playoff Meter gives Ohio State an 80.7% chance to make the playoff and a 55.9% chance to win at Indiana. The Playoff Meter puts the Buckeyes’ playoff chances at 93.7% with a win and 64.2% with a loss.

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The Buckeyes will now face defending national champion Indiana, which is 6-0 and 3-0 in the Big Ten, at noon ET on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington.

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.