Entering the 2022 college football season, Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is widely considered the top receiver in the country and in the 2023 NFL Draft class. But apparently, not every NFL scout agrees.
According to NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller, some NFL scouts don’t see Smith-Njigba as a slam-dunk, can’t-miss prospect. Instead, Miller reveals that some scouts see the Ohio State star receiver as just a “fringe” first-round pick in the upcoming draft.
While I do not agree with this sentiment, there is quite a bit of talk from NFL scouts that Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a "fringe" Round 1 prospect.
File that away as the season gets started.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) August 24, 2022
“While I do not agree with this sentiment, there is quite a bit of talk from NFL scouts that Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a “fringe” Round 1 prospect,” Miller said in a Tweet. “File that away as the season gets started.”
The college football world did not respond kindly to Miller’s report with many taking to Twitter and offering reactions of disbelief and shock at the NFL scouts’ assessment of one of college football’s biggest stars.
Well, this is stupid. https://t.co/XW6yDj3jBh
— Danny Cunningham (@RealDCunningham) August 24, 2022
https://twitter.com/lukezim/status/1562543708016627712?s=20&t=nfMYbjkCmKtFlnrmxhN-qw
https://t.co/DPls3FPbhs pic.twitter.com/PKAlVAaDxI
— Carl Jones (@Jones11_) August 24, 2022
— Connor. (@C0NB0NNN) August 24, 2022
Fringe round 1 seems low. But seems like a Devonta Smith vs. Ja'Marr Chase type of convo around he and Boutte.
JSN much less dynamic of an athlete but ultra productive.
Boutte the elite athlete who produced early.
— Ian Kenyon (@ikenyonFB) August 24, 2022
Kansas City will gladly take him at the end of the first https://t.co/v7XZaphn3B
— Zack Eisen (@zackeisen21) August 24, 2022
While scouts might not love him as an NFL prospect, Smith-Njigba lit up the college football world with his most recent appearance in a Rose Bowl victory against the Utah Utes. Smith Njigba set multiple Ohio State and Rose Bowl records, catching 14 passes for 347 yards and three touchdowns all with teammates Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave on the sideline after opting out.
If he performs that way all season, perhaps he’ll win over some of these skeptical NFL scouts.
