Wide Receiver U? Ohio State's Streak Set to Continue With Smith-Njigba

Former Ohio State Buckeyes receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba will mark the next great pass-catcher to come out of Columbus Thursday in the NFL Draft.

Author:
Casey Smith
Apr 25, 2023 3:47 PM EDT

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Ohio State Buckeyes

It's NFL Draft season, which can be good for building players and programs up but can also result in tearing players down as they look ahead to the next step in their respective careers.

Big Ten Network's Adam Breneman looks at the former and ponders the question: "Is Ohio State officially Wide Receiver U?"

"We know Ohio State always has an elite list of receivers, but things really got nuts when [head coach] Ryan Day and [offensive coordinator] Brian Hartline cranked it up a notch and had two receivers get drafted on back-to-back picks at 10 and 11 last year," Breneman said. "Then they ran it back again introducing Jaxon Smith-Njigba. JSN, as they call him, was the third guy behind Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave in 2021, but still led the team in receptions."

Breneman believes Smith-Njigba will be the next great Buckeye receiver to go to the NFL after finishing his 23-game college career with 110 catches, 1,698 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Day tweeted Monday that Smith-Njigba had "one of the best skill sets I had ever been around."

"I don't ever remember him being covered," Day said in a tweet. "Proud and excited to see you excel at the next level."

Breneman said Smith-Njigba is a "true vertical threat with great agility and great hands in traffic," the latter two he put on display at the NFL Scouting Combine and Ohio State's Pro Day. He said "he's got everything" a team would want in a first-round wide receiver.

Breneman's only question mark with Smith-Njigba's abilities is if he can play in the slot and on the outside in the NFL.

His prediction for the Rockwall, TX. native's landing spot is one that Smith-Njigba said himself he'd "really, really like."

"How about this dream scenario? JSN reunites with Justin Fields for pick 9 for the Chicago Bears," Breneman said. "Windy City better get ready."