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Ohio State star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is headed to the NFL draft and won’t play within the Faculty Soccer Playoff.
“I need to be on the market competing with my brothers greater than something,” Smith-Njigba advised ESPN on Monday. “The choice to show professional was made after I used to be unable to return again on a number of events in the course of the season and the docs decided I’d be unable to take part within the playoffs.”
Smith-Njigba entered the season as some of the adorned gamers in faculty soccer and the nation’s prime large receiver draft prospect, however he dealt all 12 months with a lingering hamstring harm. He broke the Huge Ten document with 1,606 yards final 12 months, together with a transcendent Rose Bowl efficiency the place he caught 15 passes for 347 yards and three touchdowns.
The 2022 season by no means took off for Smith-Njigba. He injured the hamstring early in Ohio State’s season opener in opposition to Notre Dame and performed simply components of two extra video games in opposition to Toledo and Iowa. Smith-Njigba caught simply 5 balls this season for 43 yards, because the hamstring subject lingered.
He mentioned all the season was irritating.
“Greater than you may think about,” he mentioned. “The season was robust, and I did every thing I might to assist my crew and get again on the sphere. Typically issues do not work out the way you deliberate, however my religion in God has given me the power to give attention to my well being and the subsequent problem.”
He mentioned he is disenchanted he will not get an opportunity to compete together with his teammates within the Faculty Soccer Playoff. No. 4 Ohio State performs Georgia on Dec. 31.
“Ohio State means the world to me,” he mentioned. “Watching from afar will likely be troublesome however I will likely be cheering my guys on and praying we get that Natty.”
Smith-Njigba will proceed to be engaged in rehab and mentioned that he’s “completely planning” to take part within the NFL Mix. He appears to be like ahead to reminding scouts what made him the nation’s prime receiver prospect going into the season.
Smith-Njigba is a 6-foot, 197-pound receiver who exhibits an excellent knack to get open, physique management and the flexibility to get out and in of breaks. ESPN NFL draft analyst Matt Miller mentioned {that a} comparable NFL participant is Dallas Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb.
“I will have an excellent greater impression within the NFL than after I performed at OSU,” he mentioned. “I am a playmaker who helps my crew win and nothing has modified. My sport each bodily and mentally has solely improved. The NFL goes to get a greater model of me and I am excited to have the chance to point out everybody that I nonetheless am WR1.”
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