He already has a rapport with Fields. He also holds Ohio State records . Its important not to speak in absolutes, but another strong season would almost assuredly grant Smith-Njigba first-round capital. The hamstring injury occurred early in Ohio State's season opener against Notre Dame, and Smith-Njigba went on to play in parts of two more games, finishing the season with five receptions for 43 yards while running a total of 42 receiving routes. He also set an Ohio State and FBS. He was replaced by freshman quarterback Bryson Barnes. He earned rave reviews from a number of media outlets. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. 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. Smith-Njigba can manipulate and change his route path in tight spaces while keeping his speed. 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. Hes difficult to bring down. JSN's Rose Bowl performance against Utah, albeit with the Utes drastically undermanned in the secondary and Olave and Wilson sitting out, was a . 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. 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. 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. You don't currently have any notifications. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. 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. [14], Smith-Njigba is of half Sierra Leonean descent. Hes able to secure catches with defenders in his wheelhouse, and hes comfortable with very little space. Stroud and Smith-Njigba are cooking . Smith-Njigba will need to fine-tune his route running to give himself his best chance to succeed at the next level. In 2021, he was third among FBS wide receivers (minimum 50 targets) in receiving yards (1,595) and second in YAC (790). He had six drops in his 2021 campaign. 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. He can also pinch tight angles around defensive backs while accelerating, showing off valuable ankle flexion. 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. Going further, Smith-Njigba appears to lack quantifiably elite explosive burst. 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. The Ohio State WR also has great stop-and-start ability and can break at impressive angles with his loose hips. 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. He hit .258 with .760 OPS last season, missing almost six weeks with a right thigh injury. Not a VIP subscriber to the Bear Report? Amateur career [ edit] Smith-Njigba attended Rockwall-Heath High School in Heath, Texas, where he played baseball. Current draft projection for Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba. 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. He also uses route angles and sudden movements at stems to generate displacement. [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. Stats at ESPN.com. Jersey Pos #11 WR . You can check them all out in our 2023 dynasty draft kit. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is one of the smoothest route runners you'll . Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba has studied Bills' Stefon Diggs since Maryland, would love to play with Josh Allen - newyorkupstate.com NFL Draft may have strongest class of tight ends in . - 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. 11 Utah. Canaan Elijah Smith-Njigba (born April 30, 1999) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). A text message to Smith-Njigba has not been returned yet. However, he needs more press experience on the boundary to prove it. 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. But after a frustrating junior year, Smith-Njigba intends to show that he is the best receiver in this year's draft. His receiving yard total is a new. Saturday's game was Ohio State's 16th appearance in the Rose Bowl, entering with an 8-7 record in Pasadena. ", Smith-Njigba feels 100% after injury-marred '22, Jones: Not fixated on Cowboys' drought, just '23, Sources: Raiders plan franchise tag for Jacobs, WR Addison to Steelers' Pickett: 'Come get me', Wolverines' Turner wows with 4.26 40 at combine, Top QB prospect Levis eager to unleash 'cannon', QB Bennett addresses off-field issues at combine, Campbell: Lamar wants deal done with Ravens, Alabama QB Young undeterred by size questions, The most memorable pre-NFL draft workouts ever: Coaches, scouts, execs make their picks, 2023 NFL franchise tag tracker: Raiders tag Josh Jacobs, the NFL's rushing leader, Browns' offense: Grading positions ahead of free agency, 2023 draft, Jaguars won't spend big, but here are five players they could target in free agency. 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. The next great one Omg @jaxon_smith1 stop it # . Jaxon Smith-Njigba is breaking records as he scored the go-ahead touchdown on a right corner fade. 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. 4 Zay Flowers - Boston College. He averaged 8.3 yards after the catch in 2021 and will likely continue that trend in the NFL. Who are the top WR's in the 2023 NFL draft? Stats. 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. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. 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. Time will tell where he gets drafted, but he's currently one of the more intriguing prospects at wide receiver in the upcoming draft. And already, he looks like a man amongst boys. apped 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. Has good body strength to squirm out of tackles with the coordination to maneuver his frame between defenders. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. As a freshman, Smith-Njigba was a depth piece who would get a few snaps a game. MORE:Tracking the fastest 40 times from the 2023 NFL Combine, "My playmaking ability is second to none," Smith-Njigba said. Smith -Njigba played minimally with Bears . Has the strong hands any NFL wide receiver coach and quarterback would covet. Those results won't be made public. Former OSU teammate Garrett Wilson the No. More Jaxon Smith-Njigba Pages. Smith-Njigba wont burn you in the open field with his raw speed, but that isnt necessary for him to succeed. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. Stacked formations. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Theres the regular season, and then there is rookie fever season. And Smith-Njigba holds up his end there as well. Hes a fairly easy accelerator who generates solid initial momentum and can freely throttle up and down. Additionally, the Ohio State WR consistently finishes forward on RAC plays and actively uses stiff arms to delay and disrupt tackle attempts. That may give some teams understandable pause. 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. That may give some teams understandable pause. Latest on Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN Smith-Njigba, who is listed at 6-foot, 240 pounds, is considered the Pirates' 27th-best prospect according to MLB Pipeline. In 2021, Smith-Njigba was the third receiver behind Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, but Smith-Njigba still managed to dominate the competition. Hes more quick than fast. / 2023 2024 BYE WEEK. Smith-Njigba is a possession slot receiver who lacks the shake to separate underneath and the speed to run past defenses. Index Of This Post [ show] Interestingly enough, while Smith-Njigba is a phenomenal prospect, his production may inflate his stock a bit past his actual value. However, theres talk that Smith-Njigba may be one of the best to come out yet. "I just think my playmaking ability is second to none in this draft," he said. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Any team investing possible 1st round capital in him knows who they are getting. [5][6] Smith-Njigba finished his high school career with 5,346 career receiving yards and 82 touchdowns in 44 games played. 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 . 22 overall pick. 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. If production was the only factor, then hed have that title locked down. But at 6-1 and 200 pounds, running in the upper 4.4s, he is hardly just a slot guy. As a senior, he caught 104 passes for 2,094 yards and 35 scores. There is no doubt C.J. 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. The vitals on Jaxon Smith-Njigba School: Ohio State Position: Wide receiver Height: 6-1 Weight: 200 pounds Years active: 2020-2022 Here are Jaxon Smith-Njigba's career stats in. We'll see if this matters at all when it comes to his draft stock. 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. 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. 1 Pick, The Case for Will Levis To Be the No. STATISTICS. 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. Can the Lions fix their defense? 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. [12] Later that season, he set both an Ohio State single game and FBS Bowl record for receiving yards with 347 in Ohio State's win in the 2022 Rose Bowl. He also has the most receiving yards in Rose Bowl game history. If anything, Saturday's game showed us the Buckeyes are in good hands moving forward. NFL draft questions for teams in the top 10: Will the Colts trade up? 6 Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the No. 10 overall to the Jets) and Chris Olave (No. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. 6 Ohio State still trails, 38-31 with the 4th quarter underway. Going further, Smith-Njigba has enough explosiveness to get out into space and escape congestion after taking short passes. 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. The No. See our list of forfeits and vacated games for more details. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. January 21, 2023 11:30 pm ET. He can create in minimal space with the best of them. They won that game 64-6. His size and strong lower body make him a tricky task for corners once the ball is in his hands. [1] 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. Smith-Njigba flashes the capacity for great explosion, especially when hes on the attack either surging into space or pursuing blockers. Scouts aren't the only football people high on Smith-Njigba. 6'1" 190 lbs Senior. . He uses violent targeted swats to combat jams and swipes down arms at the catch point. Over the final five games of the 2021 season, the Texas native accumulated 60 receptions for 958 yards and six touchdowns. Statistics. Copyright 2019-2023. Below Ill take a closer look at Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Every dynasty GM knows there is no offseason. The duo didnt work together beyond one season, but it still matters. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. *, Copyright 2010- FantasyPros.com Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba is seen as one of the top wide receiver prospects ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft. Outrageous Predictions", "Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba's record-setting day sparks No. Additionally, he primarily operated out of the slot in 2021 and frequently had free releases. He carries acceleration through transitions with great hip sink but also presses upfield at stems and actively employs deception. 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. A former five-star recruit, Smith-Njigba has dominated everywhere hes been. His size and strong lower body make him a tricky task for corners once the ball is in his hands. hamstring injury limited him to three games in 2022, though. 2 Jaxon Smith-Njigba - Ohio State. C.J. . NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. He missed all but three games of the 2022 season because of a hamstring injury. I don't think he'll be limited to just a slot receiver in the NFL. 5 Jalin Hyatt - Tennessee. Jaxon Smith-Njigba's NFL Combine profile. Could the Cowboys look at a running back in first round again? He had six drops in his 2021 campaign. . ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. The NFL offseason is here (silently chuckles on the inside). Smith-Njigba was ninth in yards per route run on deep targets, tied for first in PFF deep receiving grade, and second in passer rating when targeted on routes 20-plus yards in 2021 (minimum 15 deep targets). But as a 2023 NFL Draft prospect, is Smith-Njigbas scouting report stronger than his predecessors? - He already has a rapport with Fields. Game Logs. You throw me the ball seven to nine times, I can win you the game.". His height, weight, and length are all likely close to the median for wide receivers. In 44 high school games, Smith-Njigba racked up 5,346 receiving yards and 82 touchdowns. Stroud has a message for those who question whether Fields can excel as a passer and not just a runner. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. ranks Smith-Njigba as the No. He has very fluid hips. While its not a huge part of his game (only 16.1% of his 2021 target volume), he can win on vertical routes. Is Ohio State WR and 2023 NFL Draft prospect Jaxon Smith-Njigba the best of the bunch from the historic 2021 OSU trio? Stroud throw for 573. Jaxon Smith-Njigba plays wide receiver for Ohio State in college football. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. "I'm ready to go out and attack and show my skill set," Smith-Njigba said Friday. All Rights Reserved. And now, with Wilson and Olave gone, the spotlight is on him alone. 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) Also called him, "the most natural athlete Ive ever seen. 5-ranked player overall in the state of Texas, Played in the Army All-American game in San Antonio, Compiled 5,346 career receiving yards and 82 touchdowns in 44 career games at High School, Super productive slot receiver who Led Ohio state in receptions and yardage in 2021 despite playing officially as the third receiver behind Olave and Garret Wilson, Smooth hips with outstanding agility who is equally adept at moving laterally as vertically, Has outstanding soft hands demonstrated by his impressive 141.8 QB rating when targetted in 2021.
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