Ohio State Football: Jaxon Smith-Njigba is first-round talent

While he is not even eligible for this year’s NFL Draft, it is time to call Ohio State football’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba a first-round receiving talent.

The Texas recruit who put up record-breaking numbers in perhaps the highest level of high school football, has picked up right where he left off in his high school days. Smith-Njigba has put on a show all season long after he rarely played last season in his true freshman year.

His current production as a true sophomore wide receiver is rivaling Garrett Wilson’s sophomore season that took place last year. Smith-Njigba already has 551 receiving yards and three touchdowns in seven games of play. For comparison, Wilson has 605 receiving yards currently and Chris Olave has 518 yards.

Smith-Njigba is producing on the same level as two receivers that will likely be first-round draft picks in the 2022 NFL Draft. The case can be made that part of Smith-Njigba’s success should be credited to Wilson and Olave demanding attention, which is true. But still, No.11 is burning coverages over and over again in his slot receiver position.

The sophomore receiver is even leading the three-headed monster unit in yards per catch at an absurd 19 yards per catch. Not only is Smith-Njigba’s route-running polished, but he is also catching nearly everything with sure hands and is making people miss in open space. Here’s one of his many impressive plays this season.

Already, JSN has proven he is an all-around receiver that can do it all. Even after likely losing Wilson and Olave to the draft after the season, the Buckeyes will feel great about Smith-Njigba becoming the number one receiver going into next season.

How he produces as a perimeter receiver instead of playing slot will be interesting, that is if OSU makes that move in the first place. Considering Smith-Njigba’s skillset, he would likely transition to any receiver spot smoothly.

By the end of the season, he could already firmly be seen as a first-rounder for the 2023 NFL Draft. Ohio State really has three wideouts that have a great shot of being first-round picks, which is still wild to think about.

Smith-Njigba is even blocking well, further proving he can do it all. Look at this nice crack block by the wideout on TreVeyon Henderson’s first of many touchdowns against Indiana.

Even with some lofty expectations heading into the season, JSN has delivered and even exceeded the high expectations. What a year it’s been for the Ohio State football receiver, and that should continue as the year rolls on.

It truly is an embarrassment of riches on the offensive side right now for Ohio State football. The amount of talent in general, and even NFL talent on the Buckeye offense is sick.

Smith-Njigba looks like the next first-round receiving talent in line coached by Ohio State’s Brian Hartline. He will look to prove that even further against Penn State, and in the back half of the schedule.