His size and strong lower body make him a tricky task for corners once the ball is in his hands. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. The next great one Omg @jaxon_smith1 stop it # . 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. "I just think my playmaking ability is second to none in this draft," he said. Coming to the team, it was assumed he would have to wait his time sitting behind a loaded receiving core for the Buckeyes. Additionally, the Ohio State WR consistently finishes forward on RAC plays and actively uses stiff arms to delay and disrupt tackle attempts. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Smith-Njigba's central role in the offense was expected to be a major part of OSU's identity as a national championship contender. This is me Follow. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is breaking records as he scored the go-ahead touchdown on a right corner fade. C.J. Smith-Njigba will need to fine-tune his route running to give himself his best chance to succeed at the next level. I see myself as a top-five player in this draft. In 2021, he was third among FBS wide receivers (minimum 50 targets) in receiving yards (1,595) and second in YAC (790). It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Good effort and technique as a blocker for his size. Hes not the most explosive or the fastest receiver, but hes a methodical route runner who can employ his brand of athleticism extremely efficiently. [1] 11 Utah. Smith-Njigba was the leading receiver on a team that featured last year's NFL rookie . Garrett Wilson still maintains that Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a better receiver than him or Chris Olave. Can he make the most of it and command first-round capital like they did? 11 Utah Utes 48-45 in Saturday's Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, to finish the 2021 season with an 11-2 record. 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. 1 Pick. 6 Ohio State still trails, 38-31 with the 4th quarter underway. The 2021 season showed what he could do, however, as he totaled 95 catches for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. 3 Jordan Addison - USC. Stroud and Smith-Njigba are cooking . JSN's Rose Bowl performance against Utah, albeit with the Utes drastically undermanned in the secondary and Olave and Wilson sitting out, was a . Below Ill take a closer look at Jaxon Smith-Njigba. "I just think . He holds the FBS Bowl Game and Ohio State single game record for most receiving yards with 347 in the 2022 Rose Bowl. He averaged 8.3 yards after the catch in 2021 and will likely continue that trend in the NFL. "From playing basketball [as a kid], I feel like my creativity is what sets me apart also. . Sign up now to get access to everything publisher Zack Pearson and the entire Bear Report team have to offer on all things Chicago Bears and access to the No. Smith-Njigba wont burn you in the open field with his raw speed, but that isnt necessary for him to succeed. Jaxon Smith-Njigba 2022 stats* 2021 stats REC 95 YDS 1606 TDS 9 *Updated through Nov. 5, 2022 2022 season updates Nov. 2 A hamstring injury has robbed Smith-Njigba of almost his. Another component that helps Smith-Njigba, however, is his agility and ease of motion. The No. Entering 2022, Smith-Njigba had been projected as one of the top wide receivers in the country. Copyright 2019-2023. Jaxon Smith-Njigba Rose Bowl stats: 15 receptions, 346 receiving yards, three touchdowns; College football world reacts to Jaxon Smith-Njigba's historic Rose Bowl game. 1 Quentin Johnston - TCU. He uses violent targeted swats to combat jams and swipes down arms at the catch point. Menu Shop Menu Standings Menu Stats Menu Super Bowl Menu Teams Menu Tickets Menu More . The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. 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. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? If production was the only factor, then hed have that title locked down. He set a Big Ten single-season record with 1,606 . 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. Among other things, Smith-Njigba has shown that while he doesnt have great long speed, he can at least stack defenders in the slot on intermediate routes. 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. With his slightly lighter frame, hes not always going to withstand direct contact. Often used on deep routes, getting separation down the sideline or over the middle on crossing routes by extending his arms rather than pure speed. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. People will knock him for his long speed BUT thats not how he wins. And now, with Wilson and Olave gone, the spotlight is on him alone. [1] Smith-Njigba led all high school football players in the DallasFort Worth metroplex with 97 receptions for 1,828 yards and 20 touchdowns in his junior season. He missed all but three games of the 2022 season because of a hamstring injury. They were saying the Giants needed OL, edge and CB first. Yes, Smith-Njigba was a slot receiver in college, but that doesnt mean he doesnt have the intangibles to get loose on the boundary. Those results won't be made public. As a blocker, Smith-Njigba is an energetic and high-effort player. Smith-Njigba is undergoing medical testing at the combine, with coaches and front-office executives monitoring the results on the hamstring injury that limited him in 2022. Rising didn't have a performance quite like Stroud's, but he's still worth talking about. Does a nice job locating and tracking deep passes and is a legitimate vertical threat. Can beat the press with elusiveness or physical contact. Hes a guy that will do the laundry for you pic.twitter.com/oFeHCi8qPj. 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. 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. He had six drops in his 2021 campaign. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. *, Copyright 2010- FantasyPros.com Being able to create and react to the defender is the strong point in my game, and taking advantage of that. He can create in minimal space with the best of them. Hes tough in the middle of the defense and has proven he can make catches in congestion. Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba to miss Peach Bowl, enter 2023 NFL Draft Smith-Njigba had five receptions for 43 yards this season. Jaxon is as good as Ive ever seen, probably the best Ive ever seen. Smith-Njigba grew up in Rockwall, Texas, and attended Rockwall High School. Even without elite explosiveness, hes still a very abrupt player whose natural suddenness provides ample value. That may give some teams understandable pause. The Buckeyes star is surprisingly comfortable going low for passes, and he maintains his focus even as his balance is compromised. - He already has a rapport with Fields. That may give some teams understandable pause. For his size, Smith-Njigba is surprisingly physical. All Combine and Draft-Related Analysis, News, Video, and Biographical Information for Jaxon Smith-Njigba. While its not a huge part of his game (only 16.1% of his 2021 target volume), he can win on vertical routes. Smith-Njigba could be an immediate target hog in the NFL. He already has a rapport with Fields. It did not take long for Smith-Njigba to support those remarks. 3, behind Quentin Johnston (TCU) and Jordan Addison (USC). Smith-Njigba is undergoing medical testing at the combine, with coaches and front-office executives monitoring the results on the hamstring injury that limited him in 2022. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. (Photo: Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire, Getty), wide receiver many Chicago Bears fans have on their radar heading into the 2023 draft is former Ohio State Buckeyes standout, -Njigba played minimally with Bears quarterback. Theres the regular season, and then there is rookie fever season. Jaxon Smith-njigba Stats, News, Fantasy Football Rankings Jaxon Smith-Njigba Wide Receiver Number # AGE 21 weight 198 lbs. He quickly chops his feet and decelerates heading into route stems. Hes difficult to bring down. Three trades in a chaotic top five, NFL draft questions, predictions for combine workouts: Potential risers, top QBs and burners to watch, Played college football at Cheyney University. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. Also, in saying that, it has to be mentioned that he is plenty quick to win in the NFL. Stats: 2021 (251 FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets) Yards per route run: 1st; PFF receiving grade: 1st; Career Breakout age: 75th percentile (19.6) Smith-Njigba and Addison finished third and fourth in receiving yards in 2021, respectively, first and second among Power Five players, and JSN's Rose Bowl performance put him over the top. Terry Glenn previously held the record, having recorded 253 yards against Pitt in 1995. I just don't really care about his 40 time. And already, he looks like a man amongst boys. . Smith-Njigba struggles with injury after first catch, These five players highlight 2023 NFL mock draft. But after a frustrating junior year, Smith-Njigba intends to show that he is the best receiver in this year's draft. The Ohio State WR has near-elite stopping ability. What makes Smith-Njigbas game particularly appealing is that his mode of success is very translatable to the next level. He tossed a touchdown on his second drive of the third quarter before OSU tacked on a field goal to cut into Utah's lead, dicing the score to 38-31. 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. But at the very least, he passes the desired threshold for an NFL starter. Smith-Njigba finished with 15 catches for 346 yards and three touchdowns. He carries acceleration through transitions with great hip sink but also presses upfield at stems and actively employs deception. Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is one of the top prospects, regardless of position, as the college football season kicks off and we look ahead to the 2023 NFL Draft. - He has had an issue hanging onto the ball at times. - 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. In his final five games, he had 60 catches for 858 yards and six scores. Ultimately, however, he committed to Ohio State University. Rising is a big reason the Utes even reached the Rose Bowl, and he'll undoubtedly be a reason they play in another bowl game next season. Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba had a bold message at the 2023 NFL Draft Combine, wrote the Athletic Chicago Bears beat writer Kevin Fishbain wrote in a Thursday tweet. Smith-Njigba played minimally with Bears quarterback Justin Fields at Ohio State in 2020, catching 10 passes for 49 yards and a touchdown that year, but it was his sophomore campaign in 2021 that put him on the map nationally. , Most TD passes in single season by B1G QB, all-time:
50 - Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State (2018)
41 - C.J. Check out Jaxon Smith-Njigba's College Gamelog and More College Stats at Sports-Reference.com . Is Ohio State WR and 2023 NFL Draft prospect Jaxon Smith-Njigba the best of the bunch from the historic 2021 OSU trio? Here's a look at Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Seeing him against press coverage in 2021 will be key, but he projects well there. While Smith-Njigba is an exceptional player, there are some limitations and areas for improvement to make note of. Has enough straight-line speed and takes advantage of open seams when his quarterback is on target. They won that game 64-6. The Green Bay Packers, like the rest of the NFL, are at the combine trying to figure out who they want to draft in April. - His recent injury history is certainly a concern. Time will tell where he gets drafted, but he's currently one of the more intriguing prospects at wide receiver in the upcoming draft. Speaking of which, he's a YAC machine. Former OSU teammate Garrett Wilson the No. Still, he had earned more than a few admirers, interviewer after interviewer peppering him with questions. 5 Jalin Hyatt - Tennessee. Career Recap: Ohio State has been loaded with wide receiver talent year after year now, and Smith-Njigba is the program's model for the 2023 NFL Draft. But as a 2023 NFL Draft prospect, is Smith-Njigbas scouting report stronger than his predecessors? Smith-Njigba (hamstring) said he's 100 percent healthy, according to ESPN's Turron Davenport. Smith-Njigba has 326 yards receiving, which is the most in any bowl game in college football history. But Kiper shifted gears for his second mock, predicting New England to draft Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. [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. He wont always win on explosiveness alone, and he doesnt cover a ton of ground off initial explosions out of cuts. . Despite sharing a wide receiver room with first-rounders Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave last season, Smith-Njigba set single-season school records in catches (95) and . In a wide receivers room that also featured reigning 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, Smith-Njigba led the Buckeyes with 95 receptions, 1,606 receiving yards (16.9 yards per catch) and nine touchdowns. David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. "Why Rockwall WR, Ohio State pledge Jaxon Smith-Njigba's impressive showing at The Opening almost didn't", "Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Riley Dodge win 2019 Tom Landry Awards", "Rockwall wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba named Gatorade Texas football player of the year", "Jaxon Smith-Njigba Named to SI All-American Team", "Ohio State commit Jaxon Smith-Njigba honored as a 2020 All-American", "Jaxon Smith-Njigba poised to become Ohio State's next star at receiver", "Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State Buckeyes, Wide Receiver", "Four-Star Wide Receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba Commits To Ohio State", "Former Rockwall star Jaxon Smith-Njigba ready to take on larger role in Ohio State's offense", "Is Jaxon Smith-Njigba headed for breakout game in Ohio State football's season opener against Minnesota? The NFL offseason is here (silently chuckles on the inside). [5][6] Smith-Njigba finished his high school career with 5,346 career receiving yards and 82 touchdowns in 44 games played. Its important not to speak in absolutes, but another strong season would almost assuredly grant Smith-Njigba first-round capital. But I just haven't had enough reps on the 40 yet, so pro day you'll see me run.". Jaxon Smith-Njigba Height, Weight and Hand Size He finished with six catches for 71 yards and three touchdowns. See our list of forfeits and vacated games for more details. Jersey Pos #11 WR . NBA Stats. He was replaced by freshman quarterback Bryson Barnes. Graduated in 2020. UTAH HITS THE END ZONE FIRST IN THE . Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Ohio State) . Smith-Njigba caught 95 passes for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns in 2021. He also holds Ohio State records . Jaxon Smith-Njigba is one of the smoothest route runners you'll . ANY GAME! He was named a starter at the slot receiver position for the Buckeyes going into his sophomore season. If youre like me and youve had a raging fever since Februarythe only prescription is my rookie primers. The last time Ohio State took the field, Ryan Day's squad was embarrassed in a 42-27 loss to Michigan. Some school's results have been altered by retroactive NCAA penalties. MORE:Updated NFL Draft big board of top 125 players overall, position rankings. - His route running is superior to most wideouts in this draft class. hamstring injury limited him to three games in 2022, though. It is impossible to ignore his monster finish to the 2021 season, and he has starting slot potential, but the speed concerns coupled with an injury-plagued 2022 season threaten to negatively impact his draft stock.". Emeka Egbuka, another freshman receiver, also had a nice outing with three catches for 46 yards. Smith-Njigba caught 15 passes for 347 yards and three touchdowns. A hamstring injury limited him to three games in 2022, though. Going further, Smith-Njigba has the play strength to pry the ball away from DBs at the catch point. Lets find out. C.J. Some projections have him falling into the second round, but he could still be a Round 1 selection. - Speaking of which, he's a YAC machine. 2023 NFL Draft Highlights: Jaxon. Smith-Njigba is listed at 6-0, 200 pounds ahead of the NFL Combine. MORE:Tracking the fastest 40 times from the 2023 NFL Combine, "My playmaking ability is second to none," Smith-Njigba said. Debating NFL draft questions, risers: Concern for Jaxon Smith-Njigba or Kayshon Boutte? It's impossible to predict where he could go in the upcoming draft, though. [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. As the NFL season winds down, FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL draft scouting reports before the combine in March. . Jaxon Smith-Njigba now has the Ohio State record for most receiving yards in a game.
Coming into this season, Ohio State only had four 200-yard receiving games ever. Despite the disappointing end to Rising's night, the Utes still have a bright future with him at quarterback. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. I doubt it matters what anyone thinks of Smith-Njigba because he likely won't be available at 25. Resting on the podium overlooking a gaggle of reporters, Jaxon Smith-Njigba looked a composed figure. He also lacks breakaway long speed and can be run down in open field by plus athletes. He will be an immediate asset to the run game. He can also pinch tight angles around defensive backs while accelerating, showing off valuable ankle flexion. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Friday, March 3, 6:39AM. He wont blow defenders out of their cleats, but he has the functional strength to hold running lanes or clear a path. For comparison, he entered with just five catches for 68 yards on the season. 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. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. As a result, many are interested to see how he tests at the Scouting Combine. Jaxon Smith-Njigba believes Ohio State would have won the national championship had he been healthy all of last season. You throw me the ball seven to nine times, I can win you the game.".