Rockwall High School Rockwall TX. Every dynasty GM knows there is no offseason. In his final five games, he had 60 catches for 858 yards and six scores. [8][9], Smith-Njigba played in seven games as a freshman and led Ohio State's freshmen with 10 receptions for 49 yards and one touchdown.[10]. His size and strong lower body make him a tricky task for corners once the ball is in his hands. And when the ball comes his way, Smith-Njigba has rare instincts and excellent hands. It was also the Buckeyes' first game against the Utes since 1986. Copyright 2019-2023. The Ohio State WR sometimes needs room to quicken his feet and build up speed in short spaces. But if you want a well-rounded, high-floor receiver who can churn out 1,000-yard seasons year after year, Smith-Njigba is your guy. Jaxon Smith-Njigba now has the most receiving yards (231) in , It's a new Buckeye record for Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
He has 288 Rec yds (and counting), the most in a game in program history, and he's closing in on the all-time Bowl Game record (308 by Jason Rivers in 2006).
No. MORE:Follow live updates, highlights from NFL Combine workouts. Smith-Njigba proceeded to shatter the school's record for most receiving yards in a game, previously held by Terry Glenn with 253 yards. Smith-Njigba was limited to just three games in 2022 due to a hamstring injury and his decision to not participate in the College Playoff. The Ohio State WR trio of Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba will go down in the college football history books. Smith-Njigba, who is listed at 6-foot, 240 pounds, is considered the Pirates' 27th-best prospect according to MLB Pipeline. Can beat the press with elusiveness or physical contact. Garrett Wilson still maintains that Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a better receiver than him or Chris Olave. Smith-Njigba entered Ohio State in 2020 with a ton of pedigree. 6'1" 190 lbs Senior. Neither Wilson nor Olave was an overwhelming size threat. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Bunch. https://t.co/0WKdfgT6qO, Derek Brown (@DBro_FFB) February 10, 2023, Player Comp: If Robert Woods and Keenan Allen had a baby, Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio, *All data utilized in this article is courtesy of PFF, Football Outsiders, and Playerprofiler.com unless otherwise specified. Smith-Njigba could be an immediate target hog in the NFL. 5 Ohio State over Nebraska", "Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba sets bowl record with 347 receiving yards vs. Utah in Rose Bowl win", "Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba won't play in College Playoff, intends to enter 2023 NFL Draft", "Ohio State's Impactful Nigerian Connections, Relationship with Greg Mattison and Eye-Opening June Visit Were Driving Forces in Tunmise Adeleye's Recruitment", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jaxon_Smith-Njigba&oldid=1141457926, American people of Sierra Leonean descent, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 25 February 2023, at 04:43. In addition, he led a scoring drive to tie the game at 38 before helping the Buckeyes take the lead with 4:22 remaining in the fourth quarter. Despite having most of his 2022 season wiped out by the injury, the six-foot, 197-pound Smith-Njigba is still a good bet to hear his name called in the first round of the draft, given his past production and the outstanding hands and agility he's displayed when healthy. He was a five-star recruit from Rockwall (Texas) High School. Entering 2022, Smith-Njigba had been projected as one of the top wide receivers in the country. NFL teams really only have his 2021 stats (95 . Like other Ohio State WRs before him, Smith-Njigba isnt an overwhelming size threat. Jaxon has played on 4 football teams covered by MaxPreps. Time will tell where he gets drafted, but he's currently one of the more intriguing prospects at wide receiver in the upcoming draft. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is one of the smoothest route runners you'll . If production was the only factor, then hed have that title locked down. by Matthew Jones. The No. One wide receiver many Chicago Bears fans have on their radar heading into the 2023 draft is former Ohio State Buckeyes standout Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Smith-Njigba dominated during his high school career and had over 5,300 receiving yards and 63 receiving touchdowns, with little of that production coming in his freshmen season. Do you have a blog? Smith-Njigba caught 15 passes for 347 yards and three touchdowns. Furthermore, he shows off exceptional reaction quickness and makes high-difficulty adjustments with very little response time. "I'm ready to go out and attack and show my skill set," Smith-Njigba said Friday. Hes able to secure catches with defenders in his wheelhouse, and hes comfortable with very little space. Smith-Njigba finished with 15 catches for 346 yards and three touchdowns. Smith-Njigba is already a proficient separator, but he doesnt rely on separation to win. Menu Shop Menu Standings Menu Stats Menu Super Bowl Menu Teams Menu Tickets Menu More . . Some of Smith-Njigbas traits suggest that he can translate well against press coverage. He caught just five passes for 43 yards in his final season with the Buckeyes, which has some wondering how teams currently view him with his best season over a year removed. In his junior season, Smith-Njigba led the Dallas region with 97 catches for 1,828 yards and 20 touchdowns. [11] On November 6, 2021, Smith-Njigba recorded 15 receptions (single game school record) for 240 yards (the second most receiving yards in a game in school history at the time) and one touchdown in a 2617 win against Nebraska. Has a knack for getting open and is a quarterback's best friend - passers just need to toss the ball in his area and he'll come down with it. Smith-Njigba famously capped his season in style, putting up a Rose Bowl-record 347 receiving yards in the Buckeyes' demolition of USC. Stroud dropped a dime to Marvin Harrison Jr. , C.J. They were saying the Giants needed OL, edge and CB first. Some school's results have been altered by retroactive NCAA penalties. Heres a look at what Smith-Njigba has to offer and where he stands in a crowded 2023 NFL Draft wide receiver class. - He tracks the ball well on long throws and is capable of being a deep threat. Smith-Njigba was the leading receiver on a team that featured last year's NFL rookie . Smith-Njigba isnt necessarily a generational WR prospect, and other wideouts in the 2023 NFL Draft may have better athletic profiles. He lined up in the slot over 88% of the time in his dominant 2021 campaign, so that could be his primary role in the pros, but he's also capable of winning one-on-ones against corners in man or zone. He has good acceleration off the line and can use fast feet to gain speed as he heads upfield. Finally, Smith-Njigba has shown he can sneak through arm tackles in open space with his slippery running ability and active feet. "The Patriots have a new offensive coordinator in Bill O'Brien and could . But at the very least, he passes the desired threshold for an NFL starter. After catching 95 passes for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore in 2021, Smith-Njigba . But I just haven't had enough reps on the 40 yet, so pro day you'll see me run.". After that performance, he was touted as one of the top prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft. (31%*), 30 2/8 A former five-star recruit, Smith-Njigba has dominated everywhere hes been. He wins with excellent, quick footwork at the line and in space. He's great at getting open on broken plays, as he can often be found scrambling around nearly as much as his quarterback while trying to get open. 5 Jalin Hyatt - Tennessee. While Stroud ended the first half on a high note, he and the OSU offense got out to a rough start to open the third quarter. . We present them here for purely educational purposes. Resting on the podium overlooking a gaggle of reporters, Jaxon Smith-Njigba looked a composed figure. Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been widely recognized as one of the top wide receiver prospects in the upcoming draft class after his breakout season in 2021 that saw him outpace two future . 6 Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the No. Smith-Njigba won't take part in the 40-yard dash in this year's NFL Combine, but he still views himself among the fastest, strongest and most capable of this year's crop, a belief he reaffirmed Friday morning in Indianapolis. While its not a huge part of his game (only 16.1% of his 2021 target volume), he can win on vertical routes. The freshman quarterback was without two of his top three receivers in Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson, but that didn't matter as he had one of his most productive games of the season. MORE:Updated NFL Draft big board of top 125 players overall, position rankings. We'll see if this matters at all when it comes to his draft stock. [16] Smith-Njigba's older brother, Canaan Smith-Njigba, plays for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB).[17]. While Smith-Njigba entered the game leading Ohio State with 80 catches for 1,259 yards, he ranked third behind Olave and Wilson with six touchdowns. Smith-Njigba grew up in Rockwall, Texas, and attended Rockwall High School. 1 site covering the team! All rights reserved. Going further, Smith-Njigba has enough explosiveness to get out into space and escape congestion after taking short passes. C.J. The duo didnt work together beyond one season, but it still matters. Addison is 6-0 175, Hyatt is 6-0 180. The Ohio State wideout had seen only a few downs of action in 2022. For his size, Smith-Njigba is surprisingly physical. As a senior, he caught 104 passes for 2,094 yards and 35 scores. He set a Big Ten single-season record with 1,606 . His size and strong lower body make him a tricky task for corners once the ball is in his hands. [14], Smith-Njigba is of half Sierra Leonean descent. Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba is seen as one of the top wide receiver prospects ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft. Stroud throw for 573. The Ohio State WR has great zone and blind-spot awareness, and he can exploit spaces quickly. historically in the player's position group (Higher value represents better perfomance). 1 Pick, The Case for C.J. He made his MLB debut in 2022. He holds the FBS Bowl Game and Ohio State single game record for most receiving yards with 347 in the 2022 Rose Bowl. The sophomore was a supernova against the Utah secondary, hauling in 15 catches for 347 yards and three touchdowns. 6 Ohio State won a 48 . Ohio State has a type at wide receiver. Check out Jaxon Smith-Njigba's College Gamelog and More College Stats at Sports-Reference.com . Smith-Njigba has 326 yards receiving, which is the most in any bowl game in college football history. Jaxon Smith-Njigba believes Ohio State would have won the national championship had he been healthy all of last season. Jaxon Smith-Njigba's Football Stats. Smith -Njigba played minimally with Bears . There is no doubt C.J. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero: Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba will do every test except 40-yard dash at 2023 NFL Scouting Combine. While both had their own unique nuances as individual prospects, they both won largely with their ability to separate and convert at the catch point. This is me Follow. And already, he looks like a man amongst boys. INDIANAPOLIS -- Former Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba says he is fully healed from the hamstring injury that kept him out for most of last season, and he intends to participate in all drills at the NFL scouting combine except for the 40-yard dash. In 44 high school games, Smith-Njigba racked up 5,346 receiving yards and 82 touchdowns. Smith-Njigbas movement style helps compound his separation ability, but hes already very proficient at using his traits effectively. After the departure of Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling during the 2022 off-season, many thought that a wide receiver would be on their mind in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft. Rising didn't have a performance quite like Stroud's, but he's still worth talking about. Still, he had earned more than a few admirers, interviewer after interviewer peppering him with questions. In 44 high school games, Smith-Njigba racked up 5,346 receiving yards and 82 touchdowns. 22 overall pick. e's a Grade A slot receiver. Hes a tenacious blocker who engages well with defenders and anchors them. - His recent injury history is certainly a concern. Can he make the most of it and command first-round capital like they did? Entering Saturday's game, Rising had completed 62.8 percent of his passes for 2,279 yards and 18 touchdowns against five interceptions, in addition to rushing for 407 yards and five scores. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Stroud, QB, OSU: 37/46 for 572 YDS, 6 TD, 1 INT and 1 CAR for 10 YDS, Cameron Rising, QB, UTAH: 17/22 for 214 YDS, 2 TD and 11 CAR for 92 YDS, 1 TD, Bryson Barnes, QB, UTAH: 2/2 for 23 YDS, 1 TD and 1 CAR for 10 YDS, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, OSU: 15 REC for 346 YDS, 3 TD, Britain Covey, WR, UTAH: 3 REC for 34 YDS, 1 TD and 2 CAR for 10 YDS and 7 KR for 208 YDS, 1 TD, Marvin Harrison Jr, WR, OSU: 6 REC for 71 YDS, 3 TD, Buckeyes Have Bright Future with C.J. He caught just five passes for 43 yards in his final season with the Buckeyes, which has some wondering how teams currently view him with his best season over a year removed. Amateur career [ edit] Smith-Njigba attended Rockwall-Heath High School in Heath, Texas, where he played baseball. But Kiper shifted gears for his second mock, predicting New England to draft Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Smith-Njigba showed some star potential in college, especially during the 2021 season in which he finished with 95 catches for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns. Those things translate. *Percentile calculated on how any given stat would rank at the NFL combine He capped his 2021 campaign with a ridiculous performance in the Rose Bowl against Utah, catching 15 passes for 347 yards and three touchdowns through the air, setting a new record for receiving yards in the legendary bowl game. He was named a starter at the slot receiver position for the Buckeyes going into his sophomore season. Additionally, he can violently plant and rotate around at stems with impressive quickness. height 6' 0" college Ohio State drafted . Hes a fairly easy accelerator who generates solid initial momentum and can freely throttle up and down. Still, a first-round selection is a pretty good consolation prize. Former OSU teammate Garrett Wilson the No. Draft analyst Todd McShay reported in December that Smith-Njigba was healthy enough to play in the College Football Playoffs, but chose not to. Jaxon Smith-Njigba Height 6-1 Weight 200 College Ohio State Position WR Class Junior Home town Rockwall, TX 88.3/100 Player Rating 4 PositionRank (WR) FortyYD Time Receptions 5 Rec YDs 43 Rec TDs Rec AVG PLAYER OVERVIEW STATS WORKOUT COMBINE PLAYER NEWS Jaxon Smith-Njigba WR Ohio State | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report Draft Profile: Bio Theres the regular season, and then there is rookie fever season. [5][6] Smith-Njigba finished his high school career with 5,346 career receiving yards and 82 touchdowns in 44 games played. Any team investing high draft capital in him knows what they are getting: a high-volume wide receiver that can work both inside and on the perimeter. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the No. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? The sophomore quarterback completed 17 of 22 passes for 214 yards and two touchdowns, in addition to rushing for 92 yards and one touchdown on 11 carries.
