He flashes the ability to stack corners on verticals from the slot easily. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is one of the smoothest route runners you'll . 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. Here's everything you need to know about Smith-Njigba's NFL combine performance, measurements and results. [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. But Kiper shifted gears for his second mock, predicting New England to draft Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The silver lining is that the Ohio State WR flashes great explosive capacity. Pro Football Network, LLC. 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. All rights reserved. Going further, Smith-Njigba appears to lack quantifiably elite explosive burst. He hit .258 with .760 OPS last season, missing almost six weeks with a right thigh injury. 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. Based on Stroud's performance, in addition to the performances of his receivers, Ohio State could very well be in the College Football Playoff next season. 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. Does a nice job locating and tracking deep passes and is a legitimate vertical threat. He has good acceleration off the line and can use fast feet to gain speed as he heads upfield. However, theres talk that Smith-Njigba may be one of the best to come out yet. Stroud completed 37 of 46 passes for 572 yards and six touchdowns against one interception. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. ranks Smith-Njigba as the No. - He's a Grade A slot receiver. If the picks line up, adding Smith-Njigba would be an easy decision for Chicago. historically in the player's position group (Higher value represents better perfomance). 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 . For his size, Smith-Njigba is surprisingly physical. 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. [1] Outrageous Predictions", "Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba's record-setting day sparks No. He has had an issue hanging onto the ball at times. Some of Smith-Njigbas traits suggest that he can translate well against press coverage. Still, he had earned more . The Ohio State WR also has great stop-and-start ability and can break at impressive angles with his loose hips. In 2021, he earned third-team All-America after snagging 95 catches for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore. [8][9], Smith-Njigba played in seven games as a freshman and led Ohio State's freshmen with 10 receptions for 49 yards and one touchdown.[10]. He can create in minimal space with the best of them. Is Ohio State WR and 2023 NFL Draft prospect Jaxon Smith-Njigba the best of the bunch from the historic 2021 OSU trio? Has the strong hands any NFL wide receiver coach and quarterback would covet. As a blocker, Smith-Njigba is an energetic and high-effort player. 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. 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. The Ohio State WR has near-elite stopping ability. Smith-Njigba isnt necessarily a generational WR prospect, and other wideouts in the 2023 NFL Draft may have better athletic profiles. . NFL teams had hoped to see Smith-Njigba run the 40 in Indianapolis to compare him against the rest of the top wide receivers in 2023. Smith -Njigba played minimally with Bears . The NFL offseason is here (silently chuckles on the inside). He's great at getting open on broken plays, as he can often be found scrambling around nearly as much as his quarterback while trying to get open. They won that game 64-6. College Football at Sports-Reference.com Blog and Articles. Tracks the deep ball over either shoulder and brings in passes fluidly without breaking stride downfield. The No. A native of Rockwall, TX, Smith-Njigba has impressive route-running, agility, and a knack for making plays with the ball in his hands. Jersey Pos #11 WR . In his final two seasons . In 44 high school games, Smith-Njigba racked up 5,346 receiving yards and 82 touchdowns. Latest on Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN It's officially NFL draft season, so it's time to get to know the best players at every positions in the 2023 class. He uses violent targeted swats to combat jams and swipes down arms at the catch point. 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 set a Big Ten single-season record with 1,606 . The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. All Combine and Draft-Related Analysis, News, Video, and Biographical Information for 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. 11 overall to New Orleans), Broke 20-year-old Big Ten receiving yards record (1,545 yards in 2001 by Lee Evan, Wisconsin) with his 1,606 receiving yards in 2021, 95 receptions rank fifth-most in Big Ten history, Set Rose Bowl records with 347 receiving yards and 15 receptions with three touchdowns and was named offensive most valuable player, 2021: Rose Bowl game MVP; Third-team All-American (Associated Press), Named the Texas 6A State Player of the Year - No. 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. height 6' 0" college Ohio State drafted . As a senior, he caught 104 passes for 2,094 yards and 35 scores. Finally, Smith-Njigba has shown he can sneak through arm tackles in open space with his slippery running ability and active feet. 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 . And looking at his evaluation, that early-round billing is warranted. Career; Var 19-20; Var 18-19; Var 17-18; Var 16-17; Career Stats. Latest on Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN However, he began to heat up again as the half went on. 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. Smith-Njigba's performance helped C.J. GET BEARS NEWS DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX DAILY WITH OUR NEWSLETTER. What makes Smith-Njigbas game particularly appealing is that his mode of success is very translatable to the next level. Canaan Elijah Smith-Njigba (born April 30, 1999) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). 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 . Smith-Njigba caught 15 passes for 347 yards and three touchdowns. It did not take long for Smith-Njigba to support those remarks. Jaxon Smith-Njigba Height 6-1 Weight 200 College Ohio State Position WR Class Junior Home town Rockwall, TX 88.3/100 Player Rating 4 PositionRank (WR) FortyYD Time Receptions 5 Rec YDs 43 Rec TDs Rec AVG PLAYER OVERVIEW STATS WORKOUT COMBINE PLAYER NEWS Jaxon Smith-Njigba WR Ohio State | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report Draft Profile: Bio Stroud tossed an interception on the opening drive of the second half. 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. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. He has very fluid hips. Terry Glenn previously held the record, having recorded 253 yards against Pitt in 1995. 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. 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. Is he a player worth trading up for in any way? Hes able to secure catches with defenders in his wheelhouse, and hes comfortable with very little space. Smith-Njigba flashes the capacity for great explosion, especially when hes on the attack either surging into space or pursuing blockers. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. Below Ill take a closer look at Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Player the Ravens Should Be Watching at the . A new home for Michael Thomas? The duo didnt work together beyond one season, but it still matters. Here's a look at Jaxon Smith-Njigba. I just don't really care about his 40 time. Smith-Njigba is a possession slot receiver who lacks the shake to separate underneath and the speed to run past defenses. He also set an Ohio State and FBS. 19-20 Varsity Football. The sophomore was a supernova against the Utah secondary, hauling in 15 catches for 347 yards and three touchdowns. The Ohio State WR trio of Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba will go down in the college football history books. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. That may give some teams understandable pause. *, Copyright 2010- FantasyPros.com He also uses route angles and sudden movements at stems to generate displacement. (31%*), 30 2/8 Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba plays against Michigan State during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. Stroud dropped a dime to Marvin Harrison Jr. , C.J. 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. 2 wideout in the class, behind Zay Flowers (Boston College), while Todd McShay has him at No. Every dynasty GM knows there is no offseason. Smith-Njigba is listed at 6-0, 200 pounds ahead of the NFL Combine. "From playing basketball [as a kid], I feel like my creativity is what sets me apart also. His route running is superior to most wideouts in this draft class. Smith-Njigba proceeded to shatter the school's record for most receiving yards in a game, previously held by Terry Glenn with 253 yards. 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.". Runs elite crisp routes with sharp cuts. Scouts aren't the only football people high on Smith-Njigba. But as a 2023 NFL Draft prospect, is Smith-Njigbas scouting report stronger than his predecessors? He. 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. He was a five-star recruit from Rockwall (Texas) High School. 2022; 2021; 2020; Career; Splits. A hamstring injury limited him to three games in 2022, though. The Ohio State wideout had seen only a few downs of action in 2022. But at the very least, he passes the desired threshold for an NFL starter. As a freshman, Smith-Njigba was a depth piece who would get a few snaps a game. - Hes difficult to bring down. UTAH HITS THE END ZONE FIRST IN THE . 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. Harrison, a freshman, also had the best game of his career with Olave and Wilson out of the lineup. Let's take a closer look at JSN's draft profile, and whether the Bears should be interested in his services. 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. Hes an extremely sudden, amped-up mover who stores immense amounts of potential energy within his frame. 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. 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. 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. Who are the top WR's in the 2023 NFL draft? - His route running is superior to most wideouts in this draft class. Smith-Njigba grew up in Rockwall, Texas, and attended Rockwall High School. He carries acceleration through transitions with great hip sink but also presses upfield at stems and actively employs deception. 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. . He also sometimes lacks the strength to maintain key blocks on the outside. Furthermore, he shows off exceptional reaction quickness and makes high-difficulty adjustments with very little response time. Jaxon is as good as Ive ever seen, probably the best Ive ever seen. In 2021, Smith-Njigba was the third receiver behind Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, but Smith-Njigba still managed to dominate the competition. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Lets find out. 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. Smith-Njigba can manipulate and change his route path in tight spaces while keeping his speed. Also called him, "the most natural athlete Ive ever seen. , Most TD passes in single season by B1G QB, all-time:

50 - Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State (2018)
41 - C.J. 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 . Smith-Njigba was the leading receiver on a team that featured last year's NFL rookie . Interestingly enough, while Smith-Njigba is a phenomenal prospect, his production may inflate his stock a bit past his actual value. Copyright 2019-2023. The last time Ohio State took the field, Ryan Day's squad was embarrassed in a 42-27 loss to Michigan. He has a very reasonable path to success at the next level, but his lack of elite burst and speed are notable concerns. He was a 5-star recruit and the fifth WR in his class. Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba to miss Peach Bowl, enter 2023 NFL Draft Smith-Njigba had five receptions for 43 yards this season. He also has the most receiving yards in Rose Bowl game history. pic.twitter.com/jtvAYPnKH5. Time will tell where he gets drafted, but he's currently one of the more intriguing prospects at wide receiver in the upcoming draft. Being able to create and react to the defender is the strong point in my game, and taking advantage of that. 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. 2023 NFL Draft Highlights: Jaxon. Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Ohio State) . Jaxon Smith-Njigba plays wide receiver for Ohio State in college football. Rice is 6-0 200, Flowers is 5-9 180. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the No. Jaxon Smith-Njigba Height, Weight and Hand Size Going further, Smith-Njigba has enough explosiveness to get out into space and escape congestion after taking short passes. Fellow Buckeye Jaxon Smith-Njigba most likely won't be a top five pick but he believes he's that type of talent. Additionally, the Ohio State WR consistently finishes forward on RAC plays and actively uses stiff arms to delay and disrupt tackle attempts. He can manipulate defensive backs and tempo routes to maximize space. 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 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. And now, with Wilson and Olave gone, the spotlight is on him alone. 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. 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 finished the 2021 season with 95 receptions for 1,595. "I'm ready to go out and attack and show my skill set," Smith-Njigba said Friday. Smith-Njigba is already a proficient separator, but he doesnt rely on separation to win. However, he needs more press experience on the boundary to prove it. I don't think he'll be limited to just a slot receiver in the NFL. 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. / 2023 2024 BYE WEEK. Game Logs. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. They were saying the Giants needed OL, edge and CB first. by Matthew Jones. 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. ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. . "The Patriots have a new offensive coordinator in Bill O'Brien and could . . See our list of forfeits and vacated games for more details. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. 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. Latest on Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba including complete game-by-game stats on ESPN Willing to go up and attack the ball. Smith-Njigba dominated during his high school career and had over 5,300 receiving yards and 63 receiving touchdowns, with little of that production coming in his freshmen season. Smith-Njigba struggles with injury after first catch, These five players highlight 2023 NFL mock draft. [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. Smith-Njigba entered Ohio State in 2020 with a ton of pedigree. It was also the Buckeyes' first game against the Utes since 1986. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Stroud has a message for those who question whether Fields can excel as a passer and not just a runner. 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. For comparison, he entered with just five catches for 68 yards on the season. The freshman quarterback was without two of his top three receivers in Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson, but that didn't matter as he had one of his most productive games of the season. . Rising didn't have a performance quite like Stroud's, but he's still worth talking about. 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. 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. As a senior, he caught 104 passes for 2,094 yards and 35 scores. Some school's results have been altered by retroactive NCAA penalties. Smith-Njigbas movement style helps compound his separation ability, but hes already very proficient at using his traits effectively. The next great one Omg @jaxon_smith1 stop it # . 11 Utah and No. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. 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.". . Bunch. https://t.co/0WKdfgT6qO, Derek Brown (@DBro_FFB) February 10, 2023, Player Comp: If Robert Woods and Keenan Allen had a baby, Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio, *All data utilized in this article is courtesy of PFF, Football Outsiders, and Playerprofiler.com unless otherwise specified. Stroud and Smith-Njigba are cooking . Statistics. 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. What makes Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba . But if you want a well-rounded, high-floor receiver who can churn out 1,000-yard seasons year after year, Smith-Njigba is your guy. 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. As a matter of policy, Sports Reference only reports the results of games as played on the field. 22 overall pick. MORE:Follow live updates, highlights from NFL Combine workouts. Theres the regular season, and then there is rookie fever season. Do you have a sports website? Sat., Jan. 1, 2022; Pasadena, California, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) races to the end zone for a touchdown during the second quarter of the 108th Rose Bowl Game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Utah Utes at the Rose Bowl. Stats: 2021 (251 FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets) Yards per route run: 1st; PFF receiving grade: 1st; Career Breakout age: 75th percentile (19.6)
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