Jaxon Smith-Njigba on matching up with Joey Porter Jr: He's one of the best

Being one of the top wideouts in college football, Ohio State‘s Jaxon Smith-Njigba has done his scouting on the best defensive backs accross college football, especially when they’re in the Big Ten, like Penn State‘s Joey Porter Jr.

“Joey, he’s a great player. Big, physical corner. I feel like he’s one of the best, if not the best in the Big Ten for sure, the nation for sure. Much respect. But yeah, I’m going to have to bring my A game,” Smith-Njigba said of Porter Jr. “People are going to have to bring their A game every year against Penn State. They’re a great team. It’s usually a dogfight.

“Those are the matchups I love the most, though. The good ones. Yeah, the good ones. That’s one I love the most of, especially at Penn State this year. It’s going to be a good matchup and I’m looking forward to it.”

The son of former Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Joey Porter Sr. is fresh off a 2021 in which he had 51 tackles, a forced fumble, four pass breakups and an interception. Those numbers got him a spot from the Big Ten’s coaches on their Third-Team All-Big Ten and an honorable mention from the conference media. 

Porter Jr. is now a redshirt junior and is ready to up his game after turning in a 67.2 PFF defensive grade a year ago. The rest of his grades are rather pedestrian apart from a stout tackling grade. Porter Jr. scored a 71.8 as a tackler and a 70.1 in coverage. He allowed 370 yards and two touchdowns last season, though most was primarily given up in zone coverage – and Smith-Njigba has Porter Jr. on his radar.

That’s high praise for someone expected to be a first-rounder come the 2023 NFL Draft cycle, especially when he’s expected to have an even greater season than the record-setting one he had one year ago.

The junior from Rockwall, TX, paced the Buckeyes in receptions (95), yards (1,601), and receiving touchdowns (9) last season. He did so while showing off his impressive route running, speed, and ability to make spectacular catches against any and all defenders – and wants to go one-on-one with the best of the best, and it seems Porter Jr. is among them from Smith-Njigba’s perspective.