The passing game is the blood of college football. And heading into the 2025 season, many big names are returning to the field. There are names like LSU’s Aaron Anderson, Notre Dame’s Jaden Greathouse, Georgia Tech’s Malik Rutherford, and Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, among others, returning.
While these names are in the top 10, none have topped the PFSN Top Returning WR Rankings. That honor belongs to another Buckeye and a Sun Devil.
PFSN’s College WR+ grade measures how well a wide receiver performs based on how efficient they are, how often they’re targeted, and how much they do after the catch, especially compared to what’s typically expected at different depths. It also adjusts for how tough the opponents are.
To qualify, a receiver has to play at least half the snaps and get at least five targets in a game.
Did Jeremiah Smith Deserve the Top WR Title Over Jordyn Tyson in a Tight Race?
The PFSN’s WR+ metric is a cold yet calculated beast. And as per the metric calculation, Jeremiah Smith is the No. 1 wide receiver returning to college football in 2025. However, it was not a landslide to the top.
Right behind Smith is Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson, whose 2024 campaign nearly won the top spot. So what gave Smith the edge?
Well, it’s all in the numbers. The Ohio State star put up 1,315 receiving yards across 15 games. That is the highest any returning FBS wide receiver has put up. Smith has also found the end zone 15 times. He averaged 17.3 yards per catch, logged just one drop all season, and averaged 6.5 yards after the catch.
Jeremiah Smith 2024
76 Receptions
1,315 Receiving Yards
15 TDsNational Champ pic.twitter.com/y6l9lvfIcu
— Mr. Ohio (@MrOH1O) June 25, 2025
If that wasn’t enough, Smith also had a 0.79 EPA per target. However, Smith’s impact was not simply statistical. He broke the FBS single-season record for receiving yards and touchdowns by a true freshman. Smith was also named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Big Ten Receiver of the Year.
In the Rose Bowl, Smith truly exploded. He had seven receptions, 187 yards, and two touchdowns to claim MVP honors against Oregon. Even with all those stats, the PFSN WR+ grade system, factoring opponent strength, share of team targets, and efficiency, gave him an 89.42 (B+). Joining him on the list at No. 2 is Tyson.
Tyson, much like Smith, has quite the stat sheet. He put up 1,101 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in 12 games. Tyson was one of the reasons for Arizona State’s surprise playoff run. He was on a spree of creating moment after moment.
Jordyn Tyson and Sam Leavitt talk about their connection.@ASUFootball pic.twitter.com/g8PA3cjmc3
— Michelle Gardner (@MGardnerSports) November 17, 2024
When the Sun Devils went up against Kansas State, Tyson put up 12 catches, 176 yards, and two touchdowns. Then against BYU, he had another 125-yard performance. Tyson’s chemistry with quarterback Sam Leavitt was something for the books. Tyson’s WR+ grade now stands at 84.71 (B).
It is not enough to dethrone Smith, but there is no doubt that Tyson is bound to be dangerous this season. And let’s not forget that Tyson transferred from Colorado, missed nearly all of 2023 due to injury, and still managed to become one of the best in the country.
Now, if one is looking purely at stats, then Smith and Tyson have great numbers. But their gameplay is quite different. Smith is big on physical dominance. He uses his 6’3″, 215-pound frame to bully defenders at the point of attack while pairing it with elite route running and breakaway speed honed through years as a track star.
“I’m a whole different person now.”
ASU WR Jordyn Tyson spoke on his growth as a player and person since joining the Sun Devils while on with @Bickley_Marotta this morning. pic.twitter.com/Q6WLCSRfYX
— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) July 11, 2025
Meanwhile, Tyson leans more into precision and finesse. He’s a crisp route-runner who shines in contested situations and racks up big YAC numbers by shaking off tackles. Smith and Tyson both enter 2025 with big expectations, but only one of them is currently at the top.
And if the WR+ formula is anything to go by, the wide receiver crown is Smith’s to lose. The Buckeyes start their season on Aug. 30 against the Texas Longhorns. The Sun Devils begin their season on the same day and will take on Northern Arizona.
