COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State is expected to sign four-star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba during the early signing period for the 2020 recruiting class, which lasts from Dec. 18-20. Learn more about this member of the Buckeyes’ recruiting class with this profile.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba
School: Rockwall (Tex.).
Position: Wide receiver.
Height, weight: 6-foot-1, 188 pounds.
247Sports rating: 4-star prospect rated the No. 5 wide receiver, the No. 5 player in the state of Texas and the No. 33 player in the country according to 247Sports.com’s composite ratings.
Other offers: California, Iowa State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, TCU, Texas A&M and others.
What’s his deal?
Smith-Njigba has been one of the biggest risers in the nation throughout the past two seasons. When he committed to Ohio State in Nov. of 2018, he was the No. 289 player in the nation. He’s made a massive climb to the point where he could potentially be a five-star prospect before the end of the 2020 recruiting cycle.
247Sports’ Gabe Brooks compared Smith-Njigba to Eagles receiver Nelson Agholor. “Adjusts impressively to the ball in flight. Shows encouraging hands-catching consistency. Fairly quick off the line and effectively subtle in downfield routes. Often gets defender leaning and sells the DB one way to get separation. Possesses adequate top-end speed verified in a combine environment. Flashes impressive lateral mobility that manifests in his ability to get yards after the catch in the short and intermediate levels, as well as the screen game,” Brooks wrote.
As a senior, Smith-Njigba caught 90 passes for 1,894 yards and 31 touchdowns. In his career, he is third all-time in the state of Texas in catches (278), yards (5,147) and touchdowns (61).
How he fits into Ohio State’s plans
Ohio State’s receiver room is undergoing massive turnover with three seniors leaving in K.J. Hill, Austin Mack and Binjimen Victor. That means receivers coach Brian Hartline had some work to do in this recruiting class, building off bringing in Garrett Wilson and Jameson Williams in 2019.
Smith-Njigba was the first receiver to join the class, and he eventually rose to being one of the nation’s best prospects. He and five-star Julian Fleming can certainly earn themselves some playing time very early at Ohio State.
Projections for 2020
Wilson and Chris Olave certainly look like they will be the top two receivers on the depth chart in the 2020 season. As I mentioned with Fleming, there’s a very good chance the five-star receiver from Pennsylvania will work his way into the rotation.
Smith-Njigba has a good chance to do the same thing. He has really blossomed in his final two years of high school.
As far as what to expect from Smith-Njigba, he should be in the mix for playing time early and often. He will have to compete with returners Jaelen Gill, Jaylen Harris and Jameson Williams among others, who appear to be the next ones up, to get on the field.
Read more about Smith-Njigba
From cleveland.com
* Smith-Njigba commits to Ohio State
Other stories about Smith-Njigba
* Smith-Njigba powers Rockwall to first state semifinals since 1987 (Dallas Morning News)
Ohio State’s 2020 recruiting class
* See Ohio State’s entire 2020 recruiting class here
More Ohio State National Signing Day profiles
* Julian Fleming, 5-star receiver
* Paris Johnson Jr., 5-star offensive tackle
Get Buckeyes Insider texts in your phone from Doug Lesmerises: Cut through the clutter of social media and communicate directly with the award-winning OSU football reporter, just like you would with your friends. It’s just $3.99 a month, which works out to about 13 cents a day. Learn more and sign up here.