WATCH: Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba's 5 Favorite Plays of His Career

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba went back in time to find the top five receptions and touchdowns from his career with the Scarlet and Gray.

Author:
Caleb Spinner
Feb 7, 2023 3:47 PM EST

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Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State Buckeyes junior wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba has hauled in 110 receptions for 1,698 yards and ten touchdowns during his time with the Buckeyes.

On Sunday, Big Ten Network asked the Rockwall, Texas native to rank his top-five favorite moments of the past three seasons.

Here is how Smith-Njigba responded.

5. 2nd TD in 2022 Rose Bowl Game

With just over eight minutes remaining in the first half and No. 6 Ohio State trailing the No. 11 Utah Utes 28-14, redshirt-freshman quarterback C.J. Stroud connected with a wide-open Smith-Njigba at the 32-yard line.

Smith-Njigba slanted to the left side of the field and, with a perfect block from sophomore wide receiver Julian Fleming, scored the first of his three touchdowns in that contest.

4. 3rd-and-19 grab at Michigan (2021)

No. 5 Michigan led No. 2 Ohio State 28-13 in the third quarter with just over one minute left. The Buckeyes needed to convert a long 3rd-and-19 or risk letting the Wolverines widen the gap on the scoreboard.

Stroud took the shotgun snap, rolled to his right, and found Smith-Njigba 26 yards down the field for a new set of downs and a much-needed momentum boost. In order to haul in the grab, Smith-Njigba pinned the ball to the back of senior defensive back DJ Turner.

Ohio State would end that drive in a touchdown, putting the score at 28-20 early in the fourth quarter.

3. Long TD at Nebraska (2021)

No. 5 Ohio State sat atop Nebraska 10-3 in the second quarter with a few seconds under four minutes left. Stroud laced what seemed at first to be a short-gain pass to Smith-Njigba.

Hole after hole began to form in the Cornhusker defense, and as Smith-Njigba began to hit them, the endzone came into view. Smith-Njigba turned a short gain into a 75-yard touchdown to give the Buckeyes a 17-3 lead.

Ohio State went on to defeat Nebraska on their home turf, 26-17.

2. 3rd TD in 2022 Rose Bowl Game

Tied 38-38 in the fourth quarter of the most important game of the season is not where any team wants to be. At such a crucial time, however, is when leaders step up.

With 4:28 to go in the game, Stroud once again found Smith-Njigba open for a touchdown, his third of the game. The pass was lofted just enough for Smith-Njigba to secure it in his arms over his back right shoulder, even with junior cornerback Malone Mataele.

Smith-Njigba finished the game with 15 catches for 357 yards and that trio of scores. The Buckeyes snuck past the Utes 48-45 off the leg of senior kicker Noah Ruggles.

1. First career TD in debut (2020)

There is a reason players keep something from their first game, score or another important milestone: because its special. The same can be said about Smith-Njigba and his first score.

No. 5 Ohio State had a 38-17 advantage over Nebraska on the scoreboard with 10:08 left in the game. Then-junior quarterback Justin Fields strung a five-yard pass to Smith-Njigba, only his second career reception, to put the game firmly out of reach for the Buckeyes.