How Jaxon Smith-Njigba makes defensive backs disappear | Seattle Seahawks

The 2021 Ohio State Receiver Room

This section discusses the 2021 Ohio State receiver room and its place in college football history.

Explosive Vertical Threats

• Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave were two explosive vertical threats on the outside.

• Both players would be top 15 selections in the 2022 NFL draft.

Master Separator in the Slot

• Jackson Smith and Jigba was a master separator in the slot.

• He led the country in many categories, including receiving yards with nearly 1600.

Role of Jackson Smith and Jigba

• JSN lined up in the slot on over 88% of his snaps.

• This alignment gave him more favorable matchups and maximized his ability to separate in the middle of the field.

Understanding Jackson Smith and Jigba's Role

This section discusses how Jackson Smith and Jigba was so productive despite being part of a loaded wide receiver room.

Third-and-seven Play Against Nebraska

• On this third-and-seven play from week 10, Nebraska called cover one which calls for man coverage across the board with a post safety.

• Ohio State called a Styx concept which tells each of the four receivers on the line of scrimmage to break back to the ball at first down yardage.

• JSN takes a speed release to force the defensive back to open his hips toward the sideline before getting super low to separate.

Wide Zone Run Pass Option Against Oregon

• Against Oregon, Ohio State called a wide Zone run pass option with a backside slant from JSN who's aligned as number one receiver on top of your screen.

• Post-snap, he angles his hips right at strong side Apex Defender creating separation for himself.

Transition from Before the Catch to After the Catch

This section discusses how Jackson Smith and Jigba transitions from before the catch to after the catch.

Screen Pass Against Purdue

• Against Purdue, OSU called another wide Zone RPO this time with a screen pass attached to the backside.

• JSN catches the screen pass and makes a nice move in the open field to force a missed tackle.

Quarter Quarter Half Coverage Against Utah

• Against Utah, Ohio State called a stick concept up to bottom of your screen and double post up top which tells JSN to run a rounded post from number two spot.

• Post-snap, he does a nice job of working over the top of linebacker before bending inside which creates enough separation for CJ Stroud to target him.

• What's impressive about this play is JSN's transition at the catch point.

Jackson Smith-Njigba: The Most Polished Slot Receiver in the 2022 NFL Draft

In this video, the speaker analyzes Ohio State wide receiver Jackson Smith-Njigba's game and evaluates his potential as an NFL prospect.

Jackson Smith-Njigba's Athleticism and Ball Skills

• JSN is a well-rounded receiver with excellent ball skills and athleticism.

• He has short-area quickness and lower half flexibility that make up for his lack of straight-line speed.

• JSN displays incredible ball skills, making him a rare slot-exclusive receiver.

Limitations to JSN's Game

• Lack of long speed may limit his ability to win on the outside at the next level.

• Missed nearly the entire 2022 season battling a hamstring injury, which could affect his draft stock.

Evaluation of JSN as an NFL Prospect

• Despite limitations, JSN is already a phenomenal football player with no significant areas for improvement.

• Teams that use a lot of three-receiver sets and have a clearly defined slot role in their offense should consider drafting him in the first round.

• The speaker gives JSN a late first-round grade and expects him to be productive from day one.