Bruce Feldman, formerly of ESPN and currently writing for The Athletic, writes a fun piece each year called the “Freaks List.” Basically, he finds the players for each college football season that he considers the most absurdly physically gifted. In short, the “freaks.”
It’s always a fun read, and a great way to learn the names of players to keep an eye on during the upcoming season. And this year, Feldman’s list of freaks has two Buckeyes at the top.
The top spot on the list is occupied by Jeremiah Smith. We all know that Smith is going to be probably the best receiver in the country this year. But what makes him a “freak,” exactly? This quote from Feldman sums it up: “Smith’s 11-foot broad jump, 38-inch vertical jump and 23.5 mph on the GPS are jaw-dropping for a receiver his size.” Add his 550-pound squat and his 20 reps of 225-pound bench press, and it’s clear why Smith is atop the list. He’s putting up numbers that you see from linebackers, and he’s doing it with nearly world-class track speed.
On top of Smith at No. 1, there’s another Buckeye in the top ten. Linebacker Sonny Styles slots in at tenth on the Freak List. What stands out about Styles to Feldman? “At 6-4 1/2, 243 pounds, he broad jumped 11-0, vertical jumped 40 inches and squatted 675 pounds.” He also mentions Styles’ speed, quoting Styles that he topped out at 23.2 mph last year.
Of course, what will always impress me most about Styles is his block on Jack Sawyer’s legendary fumble return. Styles was behind Texas running back Quintrevion Wisner when Sawyer picked up the ball, and Styles flat-out outrun him to get in front them block Wisner all the way down the field. That’s Freak-level speed.
No other Buckeyes made his top 100, but this isn’t a list of best players or or most valuable. It’s a list of physical freaks. It’s a very fun read in general, and it definitely has plenty to keep Buckeye fans excited for the upcoming season.