COLUMBUS, OH – A trio of standout players and proven leaders will represent the National Champion Ohio State Buckeyes at the 2025 Big Ten Football Media Days in Las Vegas. Linebacker Sonny Styles, safety Caleb Downs, and wide receiver standout Jeremiah Smith will join head coach Ryan Day on Tuesday, July 22, as the Buckeyes meet with media outlets from across the conference.
The Big Ten Media Days will follow a three-day format, showcasing six of the conference’s 18 schools each day, with a head coach and three student-athletes in attendance from each.
Ohio State’s representatives are not only key contributors on the field but also respected leaders within the program, each having earned All-Big Ten honors in 2024. They are poised to be among the top players in the nation this upcoming season.
Jeremiah Smith, a true freshman sensation in 2024, shattered Ohio State freshman records with 76 receptions for 1,131 receiving yards and 15 receiving touchdowns. His stellar performance earned him first-team All-America honors from USA Today and second-team accolades from the AP, AFCA, and Walter Camp. Smith was named the Big Ten’s Thompson–Randle El Freshman of the Year and Richter–Howard Receiver of the Year and was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award. He led the nation with six receptions of at least 50 yards, and his 15 touchdown receptions ranked in a tie for second.
Sonny Styles, a fourth-year senior linebacker, returns as the Buckeyes’ leading tackler. A second-team All-Big Ten selection last year, Styles is a strong contender for the prestigious Butkus Award, given annually to the nation’s top linebacker. With 41 career games played and 28 starts under his belt, Styles brings a wealth of experience to the Buckeye defense. His career stats include 162 tackles, 15 tackles-for-loss, and six pass break-ups.
Caleb Downs, a unanimous first-team All-American, earned the Big Ten’s Tatum–Woodson Defensive Back of the Year award in 2024. He was also a finalist for the Thorpe Award (nation’s top defensive back), the Nagurski Award, and the Lott IMPACT Trophy, showcasing his all-around impact on the field. Downs ranked third on the team in tackles with 82 and recorded eight passes defended, including two interceptions. Entering 2025, Downs boasts an impressive 189 career tackles and 14 passes defended (four interceptions).
The Ohio State Buckeyes will be a focal point of attention at Big Ten Media Days as anticipation builds for the 2025 season. With exceptional talent on display, the Buckeyes are primed for another run at a Big Ten title and a national championship.
