Jaxon Smith-Njigba

OVERALL

Summary: Last season was a nightmare for Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who was limited to five games because of a nagging left hamstring injury. But he made his name during the 2021 season when he caught 96 passes for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns, and capped it off with a memorable Rose Bowl, setting a NCAA bowl record with 347 yards receiving. He had the benefit of playing in an offense full of talent yet still distinguished himself. Plays faster than his clock time, is an exceptional route-runner and his spatial awareness separates him, literally. OSU quarterback C.J. Stroud said JS-N is the best receiver he has played with, and at OSU that's saying something.

FRANKLY: Despite that extraordinary Rose Bowl performance, we had our doubts when JS-N had trouble getting onto the field in 2022. We admit to wondering if he was just dogging it through the year so he could get to the draft. Coaches and scouts convinced us his injuries were legit, and he put himself out there at both the Indy Combine and his Pro Day. Tape from 2021 shows a very clever player. Seems to be the real deal, worth a pick in the top 10, especially considering this draft is not loaded at the wide receiver position. 

STATS

YEAR (GP/GS)   REC    YDS      AVG     TD      DROP

2020: (7/0)         10       49          4.9         1          0

2021: (13/13)     95     1,606    16.9        9         6

2022: (3/3)         5          43          8.6         0         0

Total: (23/16)    110     1,698    15.4      10        6

 

HISTORY -- From College Profile

2022
• Played parts of just two games due to injury
• Two catches for 33 yards vs. Toledo; left the Notre Dame game in the first quarter with an injury 

Ohio State Overview
• Entered the 2022 season as one of the top receivers in college football – if not the top receiver – and a candidate for national honors
• Coming off a fabulous 2021 season when he led Ohio State with school-record totals of 95 receptions and 1,606 receiving yards … on a team that also featured first-round NFL Draft picks Garrett Wilson (No. 10 overall to the Jets) and Chris Olave (No. 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 ranks 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
• The 347 receiving yards was also an all-time bowl game record, school single-game record, the second-most in Big Ten history and the fifth-highest total in NCAA Division I history
• Had a 240-yard receiving game vs. Nebraska, also on a school-record 15 receptions, and seven games total in 2021 with at least 100 receiving yards
• Closed 2021 with five consecutive games with at least 100 receiving yards while amassing 958 total yards and 60 receptions in those games for averages of 191.6 yards per game and 12.0 receptions per game
• Enters his junior campaign with career totals of 105 receptions for 1,655 yards, a 15.8 yards-per-reception average and 10 touchdowns
• Has played in 20 games and started 13 times
• Played in seven games as a true freshman in 2020 and was tops among freshmen with 10 catches for 49 yards and one touchdown
• His freshman TD was memorable, as he got one foot down in the back of the endzone on a highlight-worthy catch in the opener versus Nebraska
• Caught four passes for 32 yards in a pair of College Football Playoff games
• Majoring in health sciences

Honors & Awards
2021: Rose Bowl game MVP; Third-team All-American (Associated Press)

More on Jaxon
• Finished the recruiting cycle with a five-star ranking and was a top 50-ranked player nationally according to 247Sports.com
• Named the Texas 6A State Player of the Year
• No. 5-ranked player overall in the state of Texas
• Played in the Army All-American game in San Antonio
• Participated in The Opening Finals in Dallas
• Compiled 5,346 career receiving yards and 82 touchdowns in 44 career games
• In 13 games as a senior, had 104 catches for 2,094 yards and 35 touchdowns
• 2,264 yards from scrimmage with 39 touchdowns
• Was the leading receiver in the Dallas area as a junior in 2018, hauling in 97 passes for 1,828 yards and 20 touchdowns for head coach Rodney Webb
• First team all-area by The Dallas Morning News
• Caught 14 passes for 267 yards and three TDs in a 2018 playoff game vs. Allen
• A first team Class 6A all-state selection
• Member of The Austin American-Statesman’s 2020 Fab 55
• Top-rated receiver in the Dallas area by The Dallas Morning News
• As a sophomore in 2017, caught 83 passes for 1,328 yards and nine touchdowns
• Is the son of Jami Smith and Maada Smith-Njigba

2022

receiving
REC	YPR	TD	LONG	YDS
5.0	8.6	0.0	21.0	43.0

2021

receiving
REC	YPR	TD	LONG	YDS
95.0	16.9	9.0	75.0	1606.0

fumbles
REC	LOST	FUM
0.0	1.0	1.0

puntReturns
AVG	NO	TD	LONG	YDS
9.0	7.0	0.0	21.0	63.0

2020

receiving
REC	YPR	TD	LONG	YDS
10.0	4.9	1.0	15.0	49.0

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
1.0	0.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	1.0

puntReturns
AVG	NO	TD	LONG	YDS
3.7	3.0	0.0	7.0	11.0