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Ohio State knew they were getting a good player when Jaxon Smith-Njigba committed to playing for the Buckeyes. It would be hard to imagine that Scarlet and Gray knew they would get such a level of production so early in their careers.
In addition to what is a second breakout season, Smith-Njigba had all day Saturday in Ohio State’s 26-17 win over Nebraska. The second-year wide receiver broke Buckeye’s one-game receiving record in a game, 14, set by David Boston in 1997. Smith-Njigba also became the first Scarlet-Gray player to receive more than 200 yards in one game since 2004, finishing with 240 and one touchdown.
(Check out Smith-Njigba’s post-match commentary above.)
This comes on top of a season where Smith-Njigba caught 35 passes for 648 yards and three touchdowns before Saturday’s game at Memorial Stadium.
Smith-Njigba came to the Buckeyes with high expectations after being ranked five-star prospect and fifth-best receiver in the country in the 2020 class by the 247Sports Composite. He was nwas voted Texas 6A State Player of the Year and competed in the Army All-American game and the opening finals last summer after compilation 5,346 career receiving yards and 82 touchdowns in 44 high school football games.
Although he was part of a class of receivers that included the top player at the post that year in Julien fleming, as well as other highly rated wideouts Gee Scott Jr. and Mookie cooper, Smith-Njigba was the most productive of the group in first grade. He finished the COVID-shortened 2020 season with 10 catches for 49 yards and one touchdown.
After being named a starter to start the 2021 season, Smith-Njigba enjoyed a quiet first game but exploded in Week 2. Although he suffered a loss to Oregon, Smith-Njigba made his mark. in college football with seven catches for 145 yards. and two touchdowns.
Playing with the seniors Chris Olave and junior Garrett wilson, the ball spreads into the scarlet and gray offense, but Smith-Njigba recorded five receptions for 93 yards and one touchdown against Akron and had five more catches and 97 or more yards in each of the last three games.
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This isn’t Smith-Njigba’s first impressive performance against Nebraska. In the season opener last year, the rookie had just two catches for five yards, but scored his first collegiate touchdown, a remarkable toe-hitting play from the back of the end zone. goals.
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