Over the years, Ohio State has produced countless S-tier stars on both sides of the football, making it almost impossible for fans to resist imagining dream one-on-one matchups across different eras. That is exactly the debate former Buckeye lockdown cornerback Jeff Okudah found himself in when 10TV Columbus’ Adam King asked whether he could beat college football’s best wideout of the last 25 years, Jeremiah Smith, in a one-on-one matchup. The former All-American CB thought about it for a while and gave his 2 cents.

“I’d like to say it would definitely be competitive,” Jeff Okudah said after putting some thought into it.

Okudah avoided the “back in my day” trap, instead giving Smith genuine respect. Okudah’s answer carried weight because he was once viewed as one of Ohio State’s most polished corners. During his dominant run in 2019, Jeff Okudah never allowed more than 50 receiving yards in a single game and held opposing quarterbacks to a miserable 39% completion rate when targeting him.

Okudah later became the No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. That background makes his respect for Smith more meaningful than a casual compliment.

Pro scouts rated his technical footwork and press-man coverage skills higher than those of previous Buckeye first-rounders Marshon Lattimore and Denzel Ward. He was supposed to be one of the best CBs in NFL history after getting drafted by the Lions as the third overall pick in the 2021 Draft.

Things started going downhill in his very first year due to a toxic mix of bad coaching and terrible luck. He was drafted by Matt Patricia, a head coach who ran a notoriously rigid, predictable defensive scheme that forced cornerbacks to cover receivers one-on-one with almost zero help. On top of that, COVID-19 didn’t help his case.

Okudah missed a normal offseason, minicamps, and preseason, so he had very little to no time to get ready for the NFL. He was then thrown into a tough matchup against Davante Adams in just Week 2.

But injuries proved the real killer; core muscle surgery ended his rookie year, then an Achilles tear in Week 1 of 2021. Since then, he has struggled to realize his potential. Okudah’s measured response was itself a compliment, as he wasn’t dismissing Smith; he was acknowledging a peer.

Okudah basically gave the young receiver a stamp of approval. He believes Smith is a generational talent, just like he was. It also confirmed what many Ohio State fans already believed: prime Jeff Okudah against Jeremiah Smith would be one of the best dream matchups one could ever ask for.

Okudah’s all in on Ohio State’s 2026 DB room

“I’m really excited by the squad. As always, I’m always looking at the DBs. Devin Sanchez, a Texas guy, I think he’s gonna have a special year. Jermaine Matthews, I think he’s gonna have a tremendous year as well,” Okudah said. “I think they’re building something that’s really special, so I’m excited. I’m excited to see what they can do.”

Even though the Buckeyes lost a couple of guys from the DB department to the draft, Okudah’s still confident in Sanchez and Matthews.

Sanchez enters 2026 as one of the nation’s most hyped young defenders. He arrived in Columbus as a five-star prospect and the consensus No. 1 cornerback in the nation out of North Shore High School in Houston. After playing a couple of reps here and there, Sanchez publicly declared over the summer that he expects to be one of the “best corners in the nation.”

Analysts project that he will take over the crucial CB1 role. And the same goes for Jermaine. At 5-foot-11, he’s smaller than Sanchez, but his talent is undeniable.

Matthews turned down the 2026 NFL Draft to return for his senior season and raise his draft stock. In spring practices, Matthews held his own against Jeremiah Smith, a rare feat for any cornerback. If he continues his spring practice form into the upcoming season, it shouldn’t take much longer for an NFL team to take a flyer on him in the early rounds of the 2027 NFL Draft.