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Jaxon Smith-Njigba

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Jaxon Smith-Njigba
refer to caption
Smith-Njigba in 2023
No. 11 – Seattle Seahawks
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (2002-02-14) February 14, 2002 (age 22)
Nacogdoches, Texas, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:197 lb (89 kg)
Career information
High school:Rockwall (Rockwall, Texas)
College:Ohio State (2020–2022)
NFL draft:2023 / round: 1 / pick: 20
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 15, 2024
Receptions:148
Receiving yards:1,622
Receiving average:10.6
Receiving touchdowns:7
Stats at Pro Football Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Jaxon Smith-Njigba (/ɪnˈdʒɪɡbə/ in-JIG-bə; born February 14, 2002) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes, where he set school records for most catches in a single game with 15 (twice) and most receiving yards in a single season with 1,606 in 2021. Smith-Njigba was selected 20th overall by the Seahawks in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft.

Early life

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Smith- Njigba was born on February 14, 2002, in Nacogdoches, Texas.[1] He grew up in Rockwall, Texas, and attended Rockwall High School.[2] Smith-Njigba led all high school football players in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex with 97 receptions for 1,828 yards and 20 touchdowns in his junior season.[3] 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.[4][5] Smith-Njigba played in the 2019 All-American Bowl and was named a high school All-American by Sports Illustrated and USA Today.[6][7] Smith-Njigba finished his high school career with 5,346 career receiving yards and 82 touchdowns in 44 games played.[8] A 5 star prospect and the #5 ranked wide receiver in the nation, Smith-Njigba received offers from many top college football programs including Notre Dame, Oklahoma and Ole Miss. Ultimately, however, he committed to Ohio State University.[9][10]

College career

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Smith-Njigba played in seven games as a freshman and led Ohio State's freshmen with 10 receptions for 49 yards and one touchdown.[11]

He was named a starter at the slot receiver position for the Buckeyes going into his sophomore season.[12] 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 26–17 win against Nebraska.[13] 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.[14] 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.[15]

Smith-Njigba was limited to just three games in 2022 due to a hamstring injury and his decision to not participate in the College Football Playoff.[16] In addition, Smith-Njigba announced that he would pass on from his senior year of college and enter the 2023 NFL draft.[17]

College statistics

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Ohio State Buckeyes
Season Games Receiving Returning
GP GS Rec Yards Avg TD Att Yards Avg TD
2020 7 0 10 49 4.9 1 3 11 3.7 0
2021 13 13 95 1,606 16.9 9 8 60 7.5 0
2022 3 3 5 43 8.6 0 0 0 0.0 0
Career 22 15 109 1,691 15.5 10 11 71 6.5 0

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump
6 ft 0+5⁄8 in
(1.84 m) 		196 lb
(89 kg) 		30+1⁄2 in
(0.77 m) 		9 in
(0.23 m)		 4.52 s 1.65 s 2.61 s 3.93 s 6.57 s 35.0 in
(0.89 m)		 10 ft 5 in
(3.18 m)
Sources:[18][19]

Smith-Njigba was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round (20th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft.[20]

He caught his first regular-season NFL pass Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams with a one-yard completion from Geno Smith.[21] Smith-Njigba started his first game Week 7 of that year after starter DK Metcalf was sidelined due to a rib injury;[22] during that game, he caught his first career touchdown pass on a 28-yard pass from Smith.[23] On October 29, Smith-Njigba caught the game winning touchdown pass from Smith on screen pass against the Cleveland Browns.[24] On December 18, Smith-Njigba caught the game winning touchdown pass from Drew Lock on Monday Night Football against the Philadelphia Eagles.[25] As a rookie, he appeared in all 17 games and made three starts. He finished with 63 receptions for 628 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns.[26]

In the 2024 season during the week 9 game against the Los Angeles Rams, Smith-Njigba recorded a career high game with 7 catches for 180 yards and two touchdowns.[27]

NFL career statistics

[edit]
Legend
Bold Career high

Regular season

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Year Team Games Receiving Fumbles
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2023 SEA 17 3 63 628 10 35 4 — —
2024 SEA 15 15 93 1,089 11.7 46 6 1 0
Career 28 14 129 1383 10.7 46 9 1 0

Personal life

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Smith-Njigba is of half Sierra Leonean descent, and wears the country’s flag on the back of his helmet.[28] His paternal grandparents are from Sierra Leone.[29] Smith-Njigba's older brother, Canaan Smith-Njigba, is a professional baseball player who is currently a free agent.[30]

References

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  1. ^ Brugler, Dane. "The Beast: 2023 NFL Draft Guide" (PDF). The Athletic. p. 49. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  2. ^ Landis, Bill (May 19, 2021). "'That's not humanly possible': The prolific high school career of Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba". The Athletic. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  3. ^ Hoyt, Joseph (July 3, 2019). "Why Rockwall WR, Ohio State pledge Jaxon Smith-Njigba's impressive showing at The Opening almost didn't". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  4. ^ Gosset, Brian (December 10, 2019). "Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Riley Dodge win 2019 Tom Landry Awards". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  5. ^ Gladstone, Mitchell (December 6, 2019). "Rockwall wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba named Gatorade Texas football player of the year". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  6. ^ Garcia, John (December 16, 2019). "Jaxon Smith-Njigba Named to SI All-American Team". SI.com. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  7. ^ Ramos, Gus (October 18, 2019). "Ohio State commit Jaxon Smith-Njigba honored as a 2020 All-American". NBCSports.com. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  8. ^ Rabinowitz, Bill (September 16, 2021). "Jaxon Smith-Njigba poised to become Ohio State's next star at receiver". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  9. ^ "Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State Buckeyes, Wide Receiver". 247Sports. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  10. ^ Webb, Derrick (November 4, 2018). "Four-Star Wide Receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba Commits To Ohio State". Eleven Warriors. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  11. ^ Lueb, Kevin (September 1, 2021). "Former Rockwall star Jaxon Smith-Njigba ready to take on larger role in Ohio State's offense". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  12. ^ Means, Stephen (September 1, 2021). "Is Jaxon Smith-Njigba headed for breakout game in Ohio State football's season opener against Minnesota? Outrageous Predictions". Cleveland.com. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  13. ^ Myerberg, Paul (November 6, 2021). "Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba's record-setting day sparks No. 5 Ohio State over Nebraska". USA Today. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  14. ^ Landis, Bill (January 2, 2022). "Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba sets bowl record with 347 receiving yards vs. Utah in Rose Bowl win". The Athletic. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  15. ^ Lind, Andrew (January 1, 2022). "Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba Sets School Record For Receiving Yards In Single Season". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  16. ^ Thamel, Pete (December 5, 2022). "OSU's Smith-Njigba headed to draft, out for CFP". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  17. ^ Parr, Dan (December 5, 2023). "Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba won't play in College Playoff, intends to enter 2023 NFL Draft". [NFL.com]. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  18. ^ "Jaxon Smith-Njigba Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  19. ^ "2023 NFL Draft Scout Jaxon Smith-Njigba College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  20. ^ Boyle, John (April 27, 2023). "Seahawks Select WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba With 20th Overall Pick". Seahawks.com. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  21. ^ "Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks - September 10th, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  22. ^ Williams, Eric (October 22, 2023). "Seahawks' rookie WRs shine in win over Cardinals with DK Metcalf out". FOX Sports. Fox Media LLC. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  23. ^ Boyle, John (October 22, 2023). "Seahawks Rookie Receivers "Played Like Starters" In Week 7 Win Over Cardinals". Seahawks.com. Seattle Seahawks. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  24. ^ "Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba: Catches game-winning score". CBSSports.com. October 30, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  25. ^ Alexander, Mookie (December 19, 2023). "Jaxon Smith-Njigba's epic game-winning touchdown was historic". Field Gulls. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  26. ^ "Jaxon Smith-Njigba 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  27. ^ Gilbert, John (November 4, 2024). "Jaxon Smith-Njigba Shines in Bigger Role against Rams". Field Gulls. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  28. ^ Carpenter, Zack (April 25, 2020). "Ohio State's Impactful Nigerian Connections, Relationship with Greg Mattison and Eye-Opening June Visit Were Driving Forces in Tunmise Adeleye's Recruitment". Eleven Warriors. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  29. ^ "Who are Jaxon Smith-Njigba's parents?". sportskeeda. August 27, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  30. ^ "Canaan Smith-Njigba Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
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