Emeka Egbuka, another freshman receiver, also had a nice outing with three catches for 46 yards. Going further, Smith-Njigba has the play strength to pry the ball away from DBs at the catch point. 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. Dynasty Rookie Draft Profile: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (2023 Fantasy Football And when the ball comes his way, Smith-Njigba has rare instincts and excellent hands. Copyright 2019-2023. Top WR Prospect Praises Patriots, Mac Jones After Combine Meeting "I was 100 percent as of two weeks ago. Plays Football. [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. MORE:Updated NFL Draft big board of top 125 players overall, position rankings. WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba Makes Captivating Statement Regarding The Green Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba met with Patriots at NFL Scouting Combine Stroud has a message for those who question whether Fields can excel as a passer and not just a runner. In 2021, he was third among FBS wide receivers (minimum 50 targets) in receiving yards (1,595) and second in YAC (790). They won that game 64-6. After the departure of Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling during the 2022 off-season, many thought that a wide receiver would be on their mind in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft. 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. Entering 2022, Smith-Njigba had been projected as one of the top wide receivers in the country. Outrageous Predictions", "Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba's record-setting day sparks No. e's a Grade A slot receiver. Does a nice job locating and tracking deep passes and is a legitimate vertical threat. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rockwall, Wide Receiver - 247Sports January 21, 2023 11:30 pm ET. But at the very least, he passes the desired threshold for an NFL starter. A former five-star recruit, Smith-Njigba has dominated everywhere hes been. But at 6-1 and 200 pounds, running in the upper 4.4s, he is hardly just a slot guy. He has a very reasonable path to success at the next level, but his lack of elite burst and speed are notable concerns. "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? 6 Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the No. 1 Pick. In his final two seasons . He also uses route angles and sudden movements at stems to generate displacement. Jaxon Smith-Njigba NFL Combine Results, Measurements and 40-Yard Dash Time Jaxon Smith-njigba Stats, News, Fantasy Football Rankings Jaxon Smith-Njigba Wide Receiver Number # AGE 21 weight 198 lbs. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, CJ Stroud break Ohio State, Rose Bowl records They were saying the Giants needed OL, edge and CB first. He believes that if he had, confetti could have rained down on the scarlet and gray. "I just think my playmaking ability is second to none in this draft," he said. Stats: 2021 (251 FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets) Yards per route run: 1st; PFF receiving grade: 1st; Career Breakout age: 75th percentile (19.6) He tracks the ball well on long throws and is capable of being a deep threat. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR - Ohio State) 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. Career; Var 19-20; Var 18-19; Var 17-18; Var 16-17; Career Stats. Smith-Njigbas snap at the top of his stem is excellent, which allows him to create easy separation. 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. Jaxon Smith-Njigba 2023 NFL Draft Profile | Tankathon [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. UTAH HITS THE END ZONE FIRST IN THE @rosebowlgame
: ESPN pic.twitter.com/ViwcC57gPb, UTAH 97-YARD KICK RETURN TD pic.twitter.com/Vx5K537La6, CAMERON RISING WOULD NOT BE STOPPED pic.twitter.com/RCIwiwaQQ4. 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. The No. Devy Spotlight: Jaxon Smith-Njigba - Dynasty Nerds Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba Shatters Receiving Records in Rose Bowl We'll see if this matters at all when it comes to his draft stock. Stroud To Be the No. 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. 1 Quentin Johnston - TCU. 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. Jaxon Smith-Njigba Stats & Fantasy Ranking - PlayerProfiler Smith-Njigba isnt necessarily a generational WR prospect, and other wideouts in the 2023 NFL Draft may have better athletic profiles. [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. 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. 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. A text message to Smith-Njigba has not been returned yet. 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 . 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. Jan 9, 2023. Jaxon Smith-Njigba: Nationality, Parents, Brother, Mother, Stats Jaxon Smith-Njigba - College Football at Sports-Reference.com . Can beat the press with elusiveness or physical contact. And looking at his evaluation, that early-round billing is warranted. The last time Ohio State took the field, Ryan Day's squad was embarrassed in a 42-27 loss to Michigan. 22 overall pick. "I see myself as a top-five player, not just a receiver. 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. Still, he had earned more than a few admirers, interviewer after interviewer peppering him with questions. Jaxon Smith-Njigba Stats, News, Bio | ESPN (19%*), 75 3/8 The 2021 season showed what he could do, however, as he totaled 95 catches for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns. . He already has a rapport with Fields. Jaxon Smith-Njigba NFL Draft 2023: Scouting report, prospect ranking Jaxon Smith-Njigba: College football career, stats, highlights, records It was the most receiving yards by anyone in bowl history. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State: 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report Smith-Njigba feels 100% after injury-marred '22, Kiper's updated NFL mock draft: Who's moving up for a QB? Coming to the team, it was assumed he would have to wait his time sitting behind a loaded receiving core for the Buckeyes. Smith-Njigba has done it twice this season. His route running is superior to most wideouts in this draft class. After that performance, he was touted as one of the top prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft. 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. He will be an immediate asset to the run game. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. Addison is 6-0 175, Hyatt is 6-0 180. 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? Some school's results have been altered by retroactive NCAA penalties. I wouldn't take a big jump, but I'd move up a couple picks to nab him if he's still there late in Round 1. 9 If youre like me and youve had a raging fever since Februarythe only prescription is my rookie primers. The Ohio State WR has near-elite stopping ability. Garrett Wilson still maintains that Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a better receiver than him or Chris Olave. Menu Shop Menu Standings Menu Stats Menu Super Bowl Menu Teams Menu Tickets Menu More . It was also the Buckeyes' first game against the Utes since 1986. - He already has a rapport with Fields. Time will tell where he gets drafted, but he's currently one of the more intriguing prospects at wide receiver in the upcoming draft. Still, a first-round selection is a pretty good consolation prize. Harrison, a freshman, also had the best game of his career with Olave and Wilson out of the lineup. Smith-Njigba, who is listed at 6-foot, 240 pounds, is considered the Pirates' 27th-best prospect according to MLB Pipeline. Smith-Njigba is now the Ohio State record holder for the most receiving yards in a game. NBC4 WCMH-TV Video 81-year-old gearing up for the Arnold 5k Pump . But I just haven't had enough reps on the 40 yet, so pro day you'll see me run.". He uses violent targeted swats to combat jams and swipes down arms at the catch point. 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. NFL Draft 2023: Former NFL GM makes pro comparisons for Jaxon Smith *, Copyright 2010- FantasyPros.com Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba Says He's a 'Top 5' Player in 2023 NFL 6 Ohio State still trails, 38-31 with the 4th quarter underway. Dynasty Rookie Draft Profile: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (2023 Fantasy Football The next great one Omg @jaxon_smith1 stop it # . And Smith-Njigba holds up his end there as well. Both Olave and Wilson, who declared for the NFL draft, will be gone next season, which means players like Smith-Njigba, Harrison and Egbuka will be Stroud's primary receivers in 2022. In his final five games, he had 60 catches for 858 yards and six scores. The Ohio State WR sometimes needs room to quicken his feet and build up speed in short spaces. In 44 high school games, Smith-Njigba racked up 5,346 receiving yards and 82 touchdowns. 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. He hit .258 with .760 OPS last season, missing almost six weeks with a right thigh injury. Latest on Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN All rights reserved. I think the best way to describe Jaxon Smith-Njigba is that hes a quarterbacks Phone-a-Friend pic.twitter.com/ZykxbLB2bG. He capped 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. 2022; 2021; 2020; Career; Splits. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. ANY GAME! What makes Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba . Smith-Njigba grew up in Rockwall, Texas, and attended Rockwall High School. Smith-Njigba is listed at 6-0, 200 pounds ahead of the NFL Combine. Scouting Jaxon Smith-Njigba: What to know about Ohio State WR ahead of Resting on the podium overlooking a gaggle of reporters, Jaxon Smith-Njigba looked a composed figure. Jaxon Smith-Njigba - College Football Wide receiver - News, Stats, Bio 2023 NFL Draft Player Preview: Jaxon Smith-Njigba - WalterFootball.com