Ryan Day provides update on why Jaxon Smith-Njigba did not play Week 4

On3 imageby:Wade Peery•09/25/22

The Ohio State Buckeyes throttled the Wisconsin Badgers under the lights on Saturday night in Columbus, 52-21. The Buckeyes took care of business, despite being without the services of one of the top receivers in all of college football, Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He’s been sidelined ever since the hamstring injury he suffered against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Following the win over Wisconsin, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day discussed that his star receiver will return to practice this week and the coaching staff is hopeful he’ll be able to play this weekend against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

You can listen to the audio from his press conference below at 17:31-17:43 or read the transcribed version below the video.

“With Jaxon, we decided to kind of shut him down for this game. And we’re gonna hope we’ll kinda get him going on Tuesday and hopefully make some progress. And get to see him play next week,” Day said.

This season, he’s only hauled in four catches for 36 receiving yards, but he’s had to miss most of the season due to his injury. Over the summer, ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller projected Jaxon Smith-Njigba to be selected at No. 2 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.

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Jaxon Smith-Njigba posted historic numbers last year

Last season, Smith-Njigba established himself as one of the best receivers in all of college football and he’s got the elite production to back that up. He hauled in 95 catches for 1,606 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. Smith-Njigba set the Ohio State single-season record for the most catches and the most receiving yards. Not only that, his performance in the Rose Bowl against the Utah Utes was one for the record books. He hauled in 15 catches for 347 receiving yards and three touchdowns, setting the record for the most receiving yards ever in a Rose Bowl game.

In his absence, Marvin Harrison, Jr. and Emeka Egbuka have both emerged as go-to targets for C.J. Stroud and the Buckeye offense. Egbuka leads the Buckeyes with 442 receiving yards and six touchdown catches, while Harrison is not far behind with 387 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Once Smith-Njigba returns, it’ll only make the Ohio State passing attack that much more lethal.

Ohio State will face off against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 PM EST.

On3’s Nick Schultz also contributed to this article.