He believes that if he had, confetti could have rained down on the scarlet and gray. The NFL offseason is here (silently chuckles on the inside). Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. 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. This is me Follow. height 6' 0" college Ohio State drafted . While Smith-Njigba is an exceptional player, there are some limitations and areas for improvement to make note of. He flashes the ability to stack corners on verticals from the slot easily. STROUD 50-YARD TD TO JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA . 2 Appearances Receiving Yards 2021 1606 (#1) Big Ten 3 Appearances Receiving Yards Per Reception 2021 16.9 (#5) Big Ten Receiving Touchdowns 2021 9 (#5) Big Ten Yards From Scrimmage 2021 1606 (#2) Big Ten More Jaxon Smith-Njigba Pages Jaxon Smith-Njigba Overview Game Logs 2022 2021 2020 Career Splits 2022 2021 2020 Career Tracks the deep ball over either shoulder and brings in passes fluidly without breaking stride downfield. Despite the disappointing end to Rising's night, the Utes still have a bright future with him at quarterback. In his final five games, he had 60 catches for 858 yards and six scores. He can manipulate defensive backs and tempo routes to maximize space. It did not take long for Smith-Njigba to support those remarks. Smith-Njigba has done it twice this season. Rising didn't begin the 2021 campaign as Utah's starting quarterback but earned the position after taking over for Charlie Brewer in an overtime loss to San Diego State on Sept. 18 and led the Utes to a Pac-12 championship. Other than his standout sophomore season, Smith-Njigba hasn't done much. The Ohio State WR trio of Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba will go down in the college football history books. "I just think . He earned rave reviews from a number of media outlets. Entering 2022, Smith-Njigba had been projected as one of the top wide receivers in the country. With lacking elite explosiveness and burst, Smith-Njigba isnt going to offer a consistent dynamic element downfield. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. 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. I just don't really care about his 40 time. Smith-Njigba is a favorite to not only break into Round 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft but also be one of the first wide receivers off the board. Time will tell where he gets drafted, but he's currently one of the more intriguing prospects at wide receiver in the upcoming draft. 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. 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 . Still, he had earned more than a few admirers, interviewer after interviewer peppering him with questions. It should also be noted that the Buckeyes were without a whopping 24 players against Utah for various reasons, which makes their performance even more impressive. 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. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Smith-Njigba feels 100% after injury-marred '22, Kiper's updated NFL mock draft: Who's moving up for a QB? Harrison, a freshman, also had the best game of his career with Olave and Wilson out of the lineup. He can also pinch tight angles around defensive backs while accelerating, showing off valuable ankle flexion. [1] Smith-Njigba was born and raised in Rockwall, Texas, and graduated from Rockwall High School. He also uses route angles and sudden movements at stems to generate displacement. Fields has also said in interviews this offseason that he'd like to see JSN come to town, which is all the more reason for him to be onChicago's radar. Runs elite crisp routes with sharp cuts. His route running is superior to most wideouts in this draft class. And as a true sophomore in 2021, Smith-Njigba led a talented Buckeyes receiving corps in both receptions and receiving yards with 95 catches for 1,606 yards and nine scores. The Sporting News' Vinnie Iyer, in his latest mock draft,has Smith-Njigba going to the Chargers with the No. Some of Smith-Njigbas traits suggest that he can translate well against press coverage. 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. Emeka Egbuka, another freshman receiver, also had a nice outing with three catches for 46 yards. 11 Utah. Smith-Njigba wont burn you in the open field with his raw speed, but that isnt necessary for him to succeed. As a result, many are interested to see how he tests at the Scouting Combine. When Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, a likely first round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, was asked what stood out about his formal interview with the Green and Gold, he said the team's desire to add playmaking to their passing game. Smith-Njigba struggles with injury after first catch (0:19) Jaxon Smith-Njigba takes a big hit on his first catch and doesn't come back in the game until late in the second quarter. He will be an immediate asset to the run game. Here's what NFL.coms draft expert Lance Zierlein had to say about Smith-Njigba's game: "Smith-Njigba is a possession slot receiver who lacks the shake to separate underneath and the speed to run past defenses. Heres a look at what Smith-Njigba has to offer and where he stands in a crowded 2023 NFL Draft wide receiver class. Some school's results have been altered by retroactive NCAA penalties. 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. 2 wideout in the class, behind Zay Flowers (Boston College), while Todd McShay has him at No. Saturday's game was Ohio State's 16th appearance in the Rose Bowl, entering with an 8-7 record in Pasadena. Hes not the most explosive or the fastest receiver, but hes a methodical route runner who can employ his brand of athleticism extremely efficiently. The Ohio State WR also has great stop-and-start ability and can break at impressive angles with his loose hips. Smith-Njigba struggles with injury after first catch, These five players highlight 2023 NFL mock draft. Stats at ESPN.com. Latest on Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba including complete game-by-game stats on ESPN In his junior season, Smith-Njigba led the Dallas region with 97 catches for 1,828 yards and 20 touchdowns. Graduated in 2020. In 2021, Smith-Njigba was the third receiver behind Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, but Smith-Njigba still managed to dominate the competition. Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba is seen as one of the top wide receiver prospects ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft. hamstring injury limited him to three games in 2022, though. Smith-Njigba will need to fine-tune his route running to give himself his best chance to succeed at the next level. Smith-Njigba (hamstring) said he's 100 percent healthy, according to ESPN's Turron Davenport. You throw me the ball seven to nine times, I can win you the game.". Jersey Pos #11 WR . [7] A 5 star prospect and the #5 ranked wide receiver in the nation, Smith-Njigba received offers from many top college football programs including Notre Dame, Nebraska and Ole Miss. Resting on the podium overlooking a gaggle of reporters, Jaxon Smith-Njigba looked a composed figure. NBC4 WCMH-TV Video 81-year-old gearing up for the Arnold 5k Pump . While its not a huge part of his game (only 16.1% of his 2021 target volume), he can win on vertical routes. 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. [3][4] Smith-Njigba played in the 2019 All-American Bowl and was named a high school All-American by Sports Illustrated and USA Today. The Case for Anthony Richardson To Be the No. - Other than his standout sophomore season, Smith-Njigba hasn't done much. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. He was named a starter at the slot receiver position for the Buckeyes going into his sophomore season. I don't think he'll be limited to just a slot receiver in the NFL. He carries acceleration through transitions with great hip sink but also presses upfield at stems and actively employs deception. Receiving. He had six drops in his 2021 campaign. Amateur career [ edit] Smith-Njigba attended Rockwall-Heath High School in Heath, Texas, where he played baseball. [14], Smith-Njigba is of half Sierra Leonean descent. The Ohio State WR is a natural hands catcher, with incredibly smooth body control in the open field when adjusting for throws. 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. Stroud, Ohio State (2021)
41 - Justin Fields, Ohio State (2019)
39 - Drew Brees, Purdue (1998) , Jaxon Smith-Njigba finished the Rose Bowl with 347 Rec yds, a new bowl record and the 5th most in a game in FBS history.

The Buckeyes prevail in a thriller, 48-45 over No. Jaxon Smith-Njigba 2023 NFL Draft Outlook Hasn't had a chance to show what he can do this past season, but what he showed as a sophomore strongly suggests he's one of the most pro-ready. NBA Stats. *Percentile calculated on how any given stat would rank at the NFL combine Draft analyst Todd McShay reported in December that Smith-Njigba was healthy enough to play in the College Football Playoffs, but chose not to. He has had an issue hanging onto the ball at times. Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba confident he is 'a top-five player' in 2023 NFL Draft: 'I can win you the game', Tracking the fastest 40 times from the 2023 NFL Combine, Follow live updates, highlights from NFL Combine workouts, Updated NFL Draft big board of top 125 players overall, position rankings. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. In 2022, Fields rushed for 1,143 yardsthe second most by a quarterback in NFL historyand eight touchdowns and threw for 2,242 yards with 17 TDs, 11 interceptions and an 85.2 passer rating. Do you have a blog? Join our linker program. Ultimately, however, he committed to Ohio State University. He can create in minimal space with the best of them. TOP 2023 WRs. A former five-star recruit, Smith-Njigba has dominated everywhere hes been. Over the final five games of the 2021 season, the Texas native accumulated 60 receptions for 958 yards and six touchdowns. We'll see if this matters at all when it comes to his draft stock. He hit .258 with .760 OPS last season, missing almost six weeks with a right thigh injury. The 2021 season showed what he could do, however, as he totaled 95 catches for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns. He made his MLB debut in 2022. The Ohio State wideout had seen only a few downs of action in 2022. Not a VIP subscriber to the Bear Report? - He's not going to blow by any defensive backs with his speed, and he's not going to participate in 40-yard dash drills at the combine, so he won't be able to change the narrative that he's a tad slower than some other standouts at WR in this class. 1 Pick. He has a very reasonable path to success at the next level, but his lack of elite burst and speed are notable concerns. XFL Week 3 preview: Can AJ McCarron, Battlehawks continue their fourth-quarter heroics? Buckeyes' Smith-Njigba, Williams back vs. Iowa, Ohio State rules out Smith-Njigba, Williams. Smith-Njigba is a bit of an enigma athletically. 10 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft believes Smith-Njigba brings a skill set greater than that of himself or Chris Olave, another Ohio State alum who went in the first round of last year's draft. But Kiper shifted gears for his second mock, predicting New England to draft Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Rising had a difficult second half, and things got even worse when he was sacked by Ohio State's Kourt Williams II and had to be taken out of the game in the fourth quarter. I'm taking things slowly to close the book on this nagging injury, which I feel like I have. Game Logs. If the Bears have a chance to snag him, JSN feels like one of the few no-brainers of the draft. As it turns out, all the Buckeyes needed was Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The NFL offseason is here (silently chuckles on the inside). Smith-Njigba was the leading receiver on a team that featured last year's NFL rookie . 3 Jordan Addison - USC. Stats. Jaxon Smith-Njigba Breaks Rose Bowl Receiving Record as OSU Tops Utah in Thriller Erin Walsh January 1, 2022 AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill The No. I just try to use all those qualities and get the job done. GET BEARS NEWS DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX DAILY WITH OUR NEWSLETTER. Below Ill take a closer look at Jaxon Smith-Njigba. MORE:Tracking the fastest 40 times from the 2023 NFL Combine, "My playmaking ability is second to none," Smith-Njigba said. And judging by the way those around the league view the 21-year old, it seems Smith-Njigba will have every chance to prove his worth at the next level. 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 was limited to just three games in 2022 due to a hamstring injury and his decision to not participate in the College Playoff. He also lacks breakaway long speed and can be run down in open field by plus athletes. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is one of the smoothest route runners you'll . [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. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Friday, March 3, 6:39AM.
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