Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Dallas, Texas, U.S. | |||||||
Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||
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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 | |||||||
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Roster status: | Active | ||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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Career NFL statistics as of 2023 | |||||||
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Player stats at NFL.com · PFR |
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (/ɪnˈdʒɪɡbə/ in-JIG-bə; born February 14, 2002) is an American football wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ohio State, 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 years
Smith-Njigba grew up in
College career
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]
He was named a starter at the slot receiver position for the Buckeyes going into his sophomore season.
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. In addition, Smith-Njigba announced that he would pass on from his senior year of college and enter the 2023 NFL draft.[14]
College statistics
Ohio State Buckeyes | |||||||||||||||
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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[15] | 22 | 15 | 109 | 1,691 | 15.5 | 10 | 11 | 71 | 6.5 | 0 |
Professional career
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:[16][17] |
Smith-Njigba was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round (20th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft.[18]
He caught his first regular-season NFL pass Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams with a one-yard completion from Geno Smith.[19] Smith-Njigba started his first game Week 7 of that year after starter DK Metcalf was sidelined due to a rib injury;[20] during that game, he caught his first career touchdown pass on a 28-yard pass from Smith.[21]
On October 29, Smith-Njigba caught the game winning touchdown pass from Smith on screen pass against the Cleveland Browns. On December 18, Smith-Njigba caught the game winning touchdown pass from Drew Lock on Monday Night Football against the Philadelphia Eagles.
NFL career statistics
Legend | |
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Bold | Career high |
Regular season
Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Fumbles | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
2023 | SEA | 17 | 3 | 63 | 628 | 10 | 35 | 4 | — | — |
Career | 17 | 3 | 63 | 628 | 10 | 35 | 4 | — | — |
Personal life
Smith-Njigba is of half Sierra Leonean descent.[22] His paternal grandparents are from Sierra Leone.[23] Smith-Njigba's older brother, Canaan Smith-Njigba, plays for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB).[24]
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Gosset, Brian (December 10, 2019). "Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Riley Dodge win 2019 Tom Landry Awards". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
- ^ 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.
- SI.com. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
- ^ Ramos, Gus (October 18, 2019). "Ohio State commit Jaxon Smith-Njigba honored as a 2020 All-American". NBCSports.com. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State Buckeyes, Wide Receiver". 247Sports. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
- ^ Webb, Derrick (November 4, 2018). "Four-Star Wide Receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba Commits To Ohio State". Eleven Warriors. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- Cleveland.com. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Jaxon Smith-Njigba College Stats". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
- ^ "Jaxon Smith-Njigba Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
- ^ "2023 NFL Draft Scout Jaxon Smith-Njigba College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
- ^ Boyle, John (April 27, 2023). "Seahawks Select WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba With 20th Overall Pick". Seahawks.com. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
- ^ "Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks - September 10th, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
- ^ Williams, Eric. "Seahawks' rookie WRs shine in win over Cardinals with DK Metcalf out". FOX Sports. Fox Media LLC. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
- ^ Boyle, John. "Seahawks Rookie Receivers "Played Like Starters" In Week 7 Win Over Cardinals". www.seahawks.com. Seattle Seahawks. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Who are Jaxon Smith-Njigba's parents?". sportskeeda. August 27, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ^ "Canaan Smith-Njigba Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved May 20, 2023.