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 That may give some teams understandable pause. Another component that helps Smith-Njigba, however, is his agility and ease of motion. Hes tough in the middle of the defense and has proven he can make catches in congestion. 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. Jaxon Smith-Njigba Wide Receiver Ohio State | NFL - NFL DRAFT BUZZ Home Jaxon Smith-njigba Stats, News, Fantasy Football Rankings Theres the regular season, and then there is rookie fever season. Rising didn't have a performance quite like Stroud's, but he's still worth talking about. "I'm ready to go out and attack and show my skill set," Smith-Njigba said Friday. Rushing. He had six drops in his 2021 campaign. After catching 95 passes for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore in 2021, Smith-Njigba . 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. Any team investing possible 1st round capital in him knows who they are getting. The Buckeyes are winning 45-38 thanks to the 85-yard drive capped by Smith-Njigba. What makes Smith-Njigbas game particularly appealing is that his mode of success is very translatable to the next level. Other than his standout sophomore season, Smith-Njigba hasn't done much. 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. 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. He also holds Ohio State records . [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. If anything, Saturday's game showed us the Buckeyes are in good hands moving forward. [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. In his final five games, he had 60 catches for 858 yards and six scores. Not a VIP subscriber to the Bear Report? Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba is seen as one of the top wide receiver prospects ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft. Stroud completed 37 of 46 passes for 572 yards and six touchdowns against one interception. In 44 high school games, Smith-Njigba racked up 5,346 receiving yards and 82 touchdowns. On the topic of Ohio State, Smith-Njigba expressed regret that he wasn't able to play more. He has very fluid hips. The Player the Ravens Should Be Watching at the . 2023 Dynasty Rookie Early Look: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR Ohio State Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Ohio State) . Menu Shop Menu Standings Menu Stats Menu Super Bowl Menu Teams Menu Tickets Menu More . 9 [14], Smith-Njigba is of half Sierra Leonean descent. Resting on the podium overlooking a gaggle of reporters, Jaxon Smith-Njigba looked a composed figure. [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. Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba met with Patriots at NFL Scouting Combine - He already has a rapport with Fields. Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba, CJ Stroud among Draft prospects who Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Smith-Njigba will need to fine-tune his route running to give himself his best chance to succeed at the next level. Jaxon Smith-Njigba (/ndb/ in-JIG-b; born February 14, 2002), also known by his initials JSN, is an American football wide receiver for the Ohio State Buckeyes. 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. But I just haven't had enough reps on the 40 yet, so pro day you'll see me run.". Has good body strength to squirm out of tackles with the coordination to maneuver his frame between defenders. Entering 2022, Smith-Njigba had been projected as one of the top wide receivers in the country. Hes tough in the middle of the defense and has proven he can make catches in congestion. Jaxon Smith-Njigba - College Football Wide receiver - News, Stats, Bio 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 uses violent targeted swats to combat jams and swipes down arms at the catch point. Time will tell where he gets drafted, but he's currently one of the more intriguing prospects at wide receiver in the upcoming draft. 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. 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. Has the strong hands any NFL wide receiver coach and quarterback would covet. That may give some teams understandable pause. 1 Pick, The Case for Bryce Young To Be the No. Plays Football. Jaxon Smith-Njigba | 2021 Highlights - YouTube As a freshman, Smith-Njigba was a depth piece who would get a few snaps a game. I think he'll grow into a versatile all-around threat. His route running is superior to most wideouts in this draft class. NBA Stats. Going further, Smith-Njigba has the play strength to pry the ball away from DBs at the catch point. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. 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. Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba to miss Peach Bowl, enter 2023 NFL Draft Smith-Njigba had five receptions for 43 yards this season. The Ohio State WR also has great stop-and-start ability and can break at impressive angles with his loose hips. 11 Utah and No. He averaged 8.3 yards after the catch in 2021 and will likely continue that trend in the NFL. Jaxon has played on 4 football teams covered by MaxPreps. 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. Smith-Njigba will need to fine-tune his route running to give himself his best chance to succeed at the next level. He was named a starter at the slot receiver position for the Buckeyes going into his sophomore season. 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. Jaxon Smith-Njigba drops huge injury update, bold message at Combine WATCH: Jaxon Smith-Njigba make insane TD catch - Buckeyes Wire Furthermore, he shows off exceptional reaction quickness and makes high-difficulty adjustments with very little response time. But as a 2023 NFL Draft prospect, is Smith-Njigbas scouting report stronger than his predecessors? - Speaking of which, he's a YAC machine. Smith-Njigbas snap at the top of his stem is excellent, which allows him to create easy separation. Draft analyst Todd McShay reported in December that Smith-Njigba was healthy enough to play in the College Football Playoffs, but chose not to. Could the Cowboys look at a running back in first round again? 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. 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. 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. 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. 2 Jaxon Smith-Njigba - Ohio State. And when the ball comes his way, Smith-Njigba has rare instincts and excellent hands. He wont always win on explosiveness alone, and he doesnt cover a ton of ground off initial explosions out of cuts. If the Bears have a chance to snag him, JSN feels like one of the few no-brainers of the draft. Thoughts from Day 1 of the NFL Combine - Buffalo Rumblings 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. His brief connection to Fields makes him one of the more intriguing draft prospects for the Bears this year, and they certainly could use some solid receivers.