Coming to the team, it was assumed he would have to wait his time sitting behind a loaded receiving core for the Buckeyes. After that performance, he was touted as one of the top prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is breaking records as he scored the go-ahead touchdown on a right corner fade. Some projections have him falling into the second round, but he could still be a Round 1 selection. Jan 9, 2023. I think he'll grow into a versatile all-around threat. However, he began to heat up again as the half went on. Join our linker program. 1 Pick, The Case for Bryce Young To Be the No. Seeing him against press coverage in 2021 will be key, but he projects well there. . Like other Ohio State WRs before him, Smith-Njigba isnt an overwhelming size threat. While hes not an elite explosive threat, Smith-Njigbas cylindrical twitch is high-level, and he uses that trait to get DBs off-balance. As a blocker, Smith-Njigba is an energetic and high-effort player. A hamstring injury limited him to three games in 2022, though. However, theres talk that Smith-Njigba may be one of the best to come out yet. If youre like me and youve had a raging fever since Februarythe only prescription is my rookie primers. Has dominated at the college level but doesn't have any elite traits that translate to the pro game - athletically he's good not great, Doesn't have any serious explosion to his game and may find it difficult to separate at the NFL level, Has good but not great speed and doesn't possess elite athletic skills, Has missed a major chunk of his junior year with a hamstring injury - will have to demonstrate this is the exception rather than the rule for him, Has had a few more drops than you would hope for in a top wideout - mostly due to occasional lapses of concentration rather than anything more intrinsic, Spent most of his college career playing in the slot - so it remains to be seen how he will stand up as an outside threat. ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. January 21, 2023 11:30 pm ET. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. 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. Scouts aren't the only football people high on Smith-Njigba. Has enough straight-line speed and takes advantage of open seams when his quarterback is on target. Fellow Buckeye Jaxon Smith-Njigba most likely won't be a top five pick but he believes he's that type of talent. NBC4 WCMH-TV Video 81-year-old gearing up for the Arnold 5k Pump . Additionally, the Ohio State WR consistently finishes forward on RAC plays and actively uses stiff arms to delay and disrupt tackle attempts. It was his most productive performance since a Nov. 13 win over Arizona when he threw for 294 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 22 yards a score. Saturday's game was Ohio State's 16th appearance in the Rose Bowl, entering with an 8-7 record in Pasadena. He has 15 receptions for 92 receiving yards and a score. He also holds Ohio State records for most catches in a single game with 15 (twice) and most receiving yards in a single season with 1,606 during the 2021 season. [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. 6 Ohio State still trails, 38-31 with the 4th quarter underway. You throw me the ball seven to nine times, I can win you the game.". Emeka Egbuka, another freshman receiver, also had a nice outing with three catches for 46 yards. - He tracks the ball well on long throws and is capable of being a deep threat. Hes a tenacious blocker who engages well with defenders and anchors them. Current draft projection for Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba. 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. He made his MLB debut in 2022. Smith-Njigba has done it twice this season. Can beat the press with elusiveness or physical contact. He wins with excellent, quick footwork at the line and in space. Smith-Njigba finished the game with a mind-boggling 15 catches, 347 yards and three touchdowns as Ohio State scored a dramatic 48-45 victory over the Utes. 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. 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. Some school's results have been altered by retroactive NCAA penalties. Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba is seen as one of the top wide receiver prospects ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft. 1 Pick, The Case for C.J. 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 . He flashes the ability to stack corners on verticals from the slot easily. Smith-Njigba entered Ohio State in 2020 with a ton of pedigree. Hes an extremely sudden, amped-up mover who stores immense amounts of potential energy within his frame. But at 6-1 and 200 pounds, running in the upper 4.4s, he is hardly just a slot guy. His receiving yard total is a new. Stroud and Smith-Njigba are cooking . He finished with six catches for 71 yards and three touchdowns. Smith-Njigba wont burn you in the open field with his raw speed, but that isnt necessary for him to succeed. Not a VIP subscriber to the Bear Report? He can create in minimal space with the best of them. Who are the top WR's in the 2023 NFL draft? Ohio State star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who has been limited to parts of two games this season because of a hamstring injury, returned Saturday to start in the Buckeyes' 54-10 blowout of . Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Ohio State) . College Football at Sports-Reference.com Blog and Articles. He quickly chops his feet and decelerates heading into route stems. The Ohio State WR is a natural hands catcher, with incredibly smooth body control in the open field when adjusting for throws. 2023 NFL Draft Highlights: Jaxon. We present them here for purely educational purposes. David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. TOP 2023 WRs. He has 15 receptions for 92 receiving yards and a score. Jaxon is as good as Ive ever seen, probably the best Ive ever seen. All Combine and Draft-Related Analysis, News, Video, and Biographical Information for Jaxon Smith-Njigba. 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. Amateur career [ edit] Smith-Njigba attended Rockwall-Heath High School in Heath, Texas, where he played baseball. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. 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. Theres the regular season, and then there is rookie fever season. 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. As a senior, he caught 104 passes for 2,094 yards and 35 scores. Smith-Njigba could be an immediate target hog in the NFL. He can contort in stride and corral tough passes with ease. Smith-Njigba feels 100% after injury-marred '22, Kiper's updated NFL mock draft: Who's moving up for a QB? *Percentile calculated on how any given stat would rank at the NFL combine Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba said he met with the New England Patriots at the combine and also praised the franchise and Mac Jones. Smith-Njigba famously capped his season in style, putting up a Rose Bowl-record 347 receiving yards in the Buckeyes' demolition of USC. The Player the Ravens Should Be Watching at the . 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. Here's everything you need to know about Smith-Njigba's NFL combine performance, measurements and results. / 2023 2024 BYE WEEK. - 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. Rising and the Utes put together five consecutive scoring drives before ending the first half with a punt. MORE:Follow live updates, highlights from NFL Combine workouts. historically in the player's position group (Higher value represents better perfomance). I think the best way to describe Jaxon Smith-Njigba is that hes a quarterbacks Phone-a-Friend pic.twitter.com/ZykxbLB2bG. 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. 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. 32 NFL players who could change teams this offseason, Disputed loan at center of Commanders probe, Kiper's updated NFL mock draft: Who's moving up for a QB? The NFL offseason is here (silently chuckles on the inside). In 44 high school games, Smith-Njigba racked up 5,346 receiving yards and 82 touchdowns. 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. 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 . 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. It did not take long for Smith-Njigba to support those remarks. Smith-Njigba will need to fine-tune his route running to give himself his best chance to succeed at the next level. Menu Shop Menu Standings Menu Stats Menu Super Bowl Menu Teams Menu Tickets Menu More . 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. Smith-Njigba, who is listed at 6-foot, 240 pounds, is considered the Pirates' 27th-best prospect according to MLB Pipeline. After Ohio State was forced to punt on its first two drives of the game, Stroud orchestrated three consecutive touchdown drives before a fumble by Smith-Njigba close to the end zone in the second quarter. height 6' 0" college Ohio State drafted . Resting on the podium overlooking a gaggle of reporters, Jaxon Smith-Njigba looked a composed figure. Can the Lions fix their defense? He was a five-star recruit from Rockwall (Texas) High School. Debating NFL draft questions, risers: Concern for Jaxon Smith-Njigba or Kayshon Boutte? He averaged 8.3 yards after the catch in 2021 and will likely continue that trend in the NFL. [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. Jaxon Smith-Njigba says he's 100% but skipping 40-yard dash Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba won't run the 40 at the scouting combine but says he is fully healed from the hamstring. Smith-Njigba was the leading receiver on a team that featured last year's NFL rookie . 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. He was replaced by freshman quarterback Bryson Barnes. Is Ohio State WR and 2023 NFL Draft prospect Jaxon Smith-Njigba the best of the bunch from the historic 2021 OSU trio? He has very fluid hips. Stroud is incredible. Heres a look at what Smith-Njigba has to offer and where he stands in a crowded 2023 NFL Draft wide receiver class. 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. 6 Ohio State won a 48 . Jaxon Smith-Njigba rose to stardom at Rockwell High School in Rockwell, Texas, where he became a five-star recruit, according to both 24/7 sports and Rivals. His route running is superior to most wideouts in this draft class. One of his most impressive plays of the evening was breaking a tackle and rushing for a 62-yard score. He can also pinch tight angles around defensive backs while accelerating, showing off valuable ankle flexion. This is me Follow. Moreover, hes a manipulative route runner who can adjust his tempo through reps. It's impossible to predict where he could go in the upcoming draft, though. Addison is 6-0 175, Hyatt is 6-0 180. He already has a rapport with Fields. The silver lining is that the Ohio State WR flashes great explosive capacity. You can check them all out in our, How to Prepare for Your Dynasty Rookie Draft, Dynasty Rookie Draft Pick Trade Strategy & Advice, Fantasy Football Draft Values to Target: Tight Ends (2023), Dynasty Trade Advice: Trade Jamaal Williams (2023 Fantasy Football), Fantasy Football Draft Sleepers: Jake Ferguson (2023), 2023 NFL Free Agent Predictions: Aaron Rodgers & Jimmy Garoppolo (Fantasy Football), 2023 NFL Free Agent Running Backs: Devin Singletary (Fantasy Football), Fantasy Football Draft Quarterback Breakouts (2023), No, I'm a California resident looking for the California Consumer Privacy Act form, Limited to three games played in 2022 due to a hamstring injury. The NFL offseason is here (silently chuckles on the inside). With his slightly lighter frame, hes not always going to withstand direct contact. [2] As a senior, he caught 104 passes for 2,094 yards and 35 touchdowns and was named the recipient of both the Landry Award and the Texas Gatorade Football Player of the Year award. Smith-Njigbas very consistent catching the ball in stride to supplement run-after-catch opportunities, and he converts over the middle of the field, even with impending contact. Smith-Njigba can manipulate and change his route path in tight spaces while keeping his speed. He has had an issue hanging onto the ball at times. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. . He also sometimes lacks the strength to maintain key blocks on the outside. Ohio State sophomore wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is earning high praise from coaches and teammates alike this preseason, and is preparing for an increased role in the offense. 3 Jordan Addison - USC. Buckeyes' Smith-Njigba, Williams back vs. Iowa, Ohio State rules out Smith-Njigba, Williams. Still, he had earned more . NBA Stats. Standing at 60, 198 pounds, Smith-Njigba fits the Ohio State mold thats been reinforced in previous cycles. Harrison, a freshman, also had the best game of his career with Olave and Wilson out of the lineup. If production was the only factor, then hed have that title locked down. 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. Latest on Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba including complete game-by-game stats on ESPN 2022; 2021; 2020; Career; Splits. Yes, Smith-Njigba was a slot receiver in college, but that doesnt mean he doesnt have the intangibles to get loose on the boundary. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. [13] In that game, he also recorded 15 receptions (tying his own record set in the aforementioned Nebraska game) and passed David Boston for the single season receiving yards record at Ohio State with 1,606. Rice is 6-0 200, Flowers is 5-9 180. A former five-star recruit, Smith-Njigba has dominated everywhere hes been. Has the strong hands any NFL wide receiver coach and quarterback would covet. 1 Quentin Johnston - TCU. Stacked formations. Hes able to secure catches with defenders in his wheelhouse, and hes comfortable with very little space. Ohio State sophomore wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba had one of the most epic Rose Bowl performances of all time -- literally one for the record books -- on Saturday as No. In his junior season, Smith-Njigba led the Dallas region with 97 catches for 1,828 yards and 20 touchdowns. However, he needs more press experience on the boundary to prove it. 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. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Its important not to speak in absolutes, but another strong season would almost assuredly grant Smith-Njigba first-round capital. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Outrageous Predictions", "Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba's record-setting day sparks No. Going further, Smith-Njigba has enough explosiveness to get out into space and escape congestion after taking short passes. Does a nice job locating and tracking deep passes and is a legitimate vertical threat.
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