"I'm ready to go out and attack and show my skill set," Smith-Njigba said Friday. And already, he looks like a man amongst boys. His size and strong lower body make him a tricky task for corners once the ball is in his hands. That's a ringing endorsement from a future contemporary. historically in the player's position group (Higher value represents better perfomance). 6 Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the No. In 44 high school games, Smith-Njigba racked up 5,346 receiving yards and 82 touchdowns. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Ultimately, however, he committed to Ohio State University. Those are two of the most important jobs for a wide receiver. That may give some teams understandable pause. He flashes the ability to stack corners on verticals from the slot easily. You can check them all out in our 2023 dynasty draft kit. [5][6] Smith-Njigba finished his high school career with 5,346 career receiving yards and 82 touchdowns in 44 games played. Smith-Njigba, who is listed at 6-foot, 240 pounds, is considered the Pirates' 27th-best prospect according to MLB Pipeline. He hit .258 with .760 OPS last season, missing almost six weeks with a right thigh injury. TOP 2023 WRs. Has good body strength to squirm out of tackles with the coordination to maneuver his frame between defenders. 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. - 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. Other than his standout sophomore season, Smith-Njigba hasn't done much. If the picks line up, adding Smith-Njigba would be an easy decision for Chicago. 4 Zay Flowers - Boston College. He has good acceleration off the line and can use fast feet to gain speed as he heads upfield. Hes tough in the middle of the defense and has proven he can make catches in congestion. 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. 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? Hes not the most explosive or the fastest receiver, but hes a methodical route runner who can employ his brand of athleticism extremely efficiently. ", 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. 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. The No. Good effort and technique as a blocker for his size. 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. 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.". 6 Ohio State won a 48 . He finished with six catches for 71 yards and three touchdowns. The duo didnt work together beyond one season, but it still matters. While its not a huge part of his game (only 16.1% of his 2021 target volume), he can win on vertical routes. Canaan Elijah Smith-Njigba (born April 30, 1999) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). Rockwall High School Rockwall TX. We'll see if this matters at all when it comes to his draft stock. Standing at 60, 198 pounds, Smith-Njigba fits the Ohio State mold thats been reinforced in previous cycles. / 2023 2024 BYE WEEK. Can he make the most of it and command first-round capital like they did? 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. 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. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. I think he'll grow into a versatile all-around threat. 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. And Smith-Njigba holds up his end there as well. All Rights Reserved. Hes able to secure catches with defenders in his wheelhouse, and hes comfortable with very little space. Smith-Njigba is listed at 6-0, 200 pounds ahead of the NFL Combine. Its important not to speak in absolutes, but another strong season would almost assuredly grant Smith-Njigba first-round capital. Additionally, he can violently plant and rotate around at stems with impressive quickness. Here's a look at Jaxon Smith-Njigba. 1 site covering the team! [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]. Theres the regular season, and then there is rookie fever season. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the No. Find out more. Has the strong hands any NFL wide receiver coach and quarterback would covet. JSN's Rose Bowl performance against Utah, albeit with the Utes drastically undermanned in the secondary and Olave and Wilson sitting out, was a . While hes not an elite explosive threat, Smith-Njigbas cylindrical twitch is high-level, and he uses that trait to get DBs off-balance. 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. But as a 2023 NFL Draft prospect, is Smith-Njigbas scouting report stronger than his predecessors? Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Ohio State) . Current draft projection for Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Music Outro: Eminem - Lose YourselfSecond Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8n8qjtOWK1j3tFiZAeeZ4QInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/justin_stewar. 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 when the ball comes his way, Smith-Njigba has rare instincts and excellent hands. He has 15 receptions for 92 receiving yards and a score. All Combine and Draft-Related Analysis, News, Video, and Biographical Information for Jaxon Smith-Njigba. [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. Smith-Njigba is a bit of an enigma athletically. Rising and the Utes put together five consecutive scoring drives before ending the first half with a punt. 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. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Smith-Njigba was the leading receiver on a team that featured last year's NFL rookie . 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Smith-Njigba wont burn you in the open field with his raw speed, but that isnt necessary for him to succeed. 3, behind Quentin Johnston (TCU) and Jordan Addison (USC). 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. While Stroud ended the first half on a high note, he and the OSU offense got out to a rough start to open the third quarter. Jan 9, 2023. Stroud throw for 573. 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. Fellow Buckeye Jaxon Smith-Njigba most likely won't be a top five pick but he believes he's that type of talent. "I just think . Stats at ESPN.com. 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. [1] - Speaking of which, he's a YAC machine. 11 Utah. For comparison, he entered with just five catches for 68 yards on the season. Ohio State has a type at wide receiver. Hes a fairly easy accelerator who generates solid initial momentum and can freely throttle up and down. Entering 2022, Smith-Njigba had been projected as one of the top wide receivers in the country. If production was the only factor, then hed have that title locked down. But Kiper shifted gears for his second mock, predicting New England to draft Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. 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. Latest on Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN He has very fluid hips. I'm taking things slowly to close the book on this nagging injury, which I feel like I have. Three trades in a chaotic top five, Kiper's Round 1 NFL mock draft: Where four quarterbacks land in the top 10 picks, OSU's Smith-Njigba headed to draft, out for CFP, Ohio State gets RB Williams back vs. Michigan, Buckeyes' Smith-Njigba (hamstring) out again, Buckeyes' Smith-Njigba may be on snap count. Do you have a blog? Smith-Njigba has visible lateral twitch, and he brings good energy with his movement. 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. Time will tell where he gets drafted, but he's currently one of the more intriguing prospects at wide receiver in the upcoming draft. Seeing him against press coverage in 2021 will be key, but he projects well there. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. pic.twitter.com/jtvAYPnKH5. 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 tracks the ball well on long throws and is capable of being a deep threat. NBA Stats. A hamstring injury limited him to three games in 2022, though. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. This is me Follow. He also lacks breakaway long speed and can be run down in open field by plus athletes. 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. "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? Let's take a closer look at JSN's draft profile, and whether the Bears should be interested in his services. 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. Smith-Njigba could be an immediate target hog in the NFL. - He already has a rapport with Fields. It's impossible to predict where he could go in the upcoming draft, though. Theres the regular season, and then there is rookie fever season.