With selections that opened eyes, New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson built his ideal receiver using traits from his fellow Ohio State wideouts. For as long as sports debate exists, the discussion of which skills from certain receivers would combine to make the perfect player has been ongoing.
The topic during friendly exchanges often requires both nuance and depth of knowledge of the game itself. As a result, when an NFL receiver answers, you cannot help but sit up and take notice.
NY Jets WR Garrett Wilson Assembles His Perfect Wide Receiver Using Players From Ohio State
In recent years, Ohio State University has become a hub for elite wideouts that graduate through its doors and find their way to Sunday games. In 2021, the school boasted a receiver room consisting of Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr., Wilson, and Chris Olave. Not to mention, Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay’s first-round pick this year, was a freshman that season.
Under those circumstances, Columbus, Ohio, became fertile ground for pass catchers to hone their skills before moving on to the next level. Wilson joined CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala to discuss many topics, including the construction of the perfect wide receiver. The caveat was that he could only use Ohio State wide receivers.
Garrett Wilson builds his ultimate Ohio State wide receiver pic.twitter.com/GDB0U1z1BG
— Woody (@woodyVSworld) July 25, 2025
“Size: Marvin Harrison, Jr. … Speed: Chris Olave … Jump Ball: Jeremiah Smith … Route Running: Mine … Hands: Jaxon Smith-Njigba … Strength: Marvin Harrison, Jr. Marvin’s strong … Swagger: Jameson Williams … Trash Talk: I like mine on that.”
People forget that Williams played two seasons at Ohio State before transferring to the University of Alabama. Additionally, Smith played his freshman year in Columbus last season, catching 76 passes for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns. Analysts already predict he will also be a first-round draft pick when he’s eligible.
Looking at Wilson’s trait list, you can see his thought process. Harrison stands six-foot-three and weighs 220 pounds, by far the largest of that group. Plus, Smith-Njigba catching 70.9% of his passes lends credence to his selection. However, possibly due to his frame of reference, Wilson did not mention Buckeye wideouts of the past.
The Game 1998 – Joe Germaine passed for 330 yards and David Boston had 217 receiving yards as Ohio State defeated Tom Brady and Michigan pic.twitter.com/IfPOln6AuR
— Buckeye Videos (@BuckVideos) August 23, 2024
Speedsters like Ted Ginn Jr. and Joey Galloway’s explosiveness could line up with Olave’s. On top of that, Cris Carter’s size, trash talk, and the swagger of regularly making one-handed catches could rank high on the list. David Boston’s 4.32 time in the 40-yard dash and the eventual size he grew into merit consideration.
Ted Ginn Jr’s speed was elite pic.twitter.com/sZHQiz084r
— Mr. Ohio (@MrOH1O) July 19, 2025
As the broad receiver pipeline from Ohio State to the NFL turns out talent regularly, you could see a broader scope to the list. At the same time, if Wilson’s parameters are set within the last half-decade, it tells the story of concentrated talent that all excelled on the same level.
