Jaxon Smith-Njigba spends week breaking records, dodging tornadoes

by:Jaxon Smith-Njigba•10/23/19

Ohio State verbal commit Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the country’s 10th-ranked wide receiver prospect in the Class of 2020, is set to embark on his final year of high school football.

A Rockwall (Texas) standout, Smith-Njigba committed to Ohio State last November, just days after his first visit with the Buckeyes. The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder has risen up the national rankings following two huge seasons at Rockwall, collecting more than 3,000 yards receiving heading into his senior season. The talented prospect is sharing his senior campaign with Lettermen Row through a weekly journal that will focus on Smith-Njigba’s football, family and anything else on his mind as he prepares to enroll at Ohio State in January.

Last weekend was truly one to remember for me.

It was full of special moments for me and my family, starting with my All-American press conference on Friday morning. The room was filled with my coaches, teammates and teachers. It was nice to have the opportunity to thank them for helping me earn this achievement, because I feel truly honored and blessed to receive that recognition and to be able to compete in the All-American Game in January.

There is not a better way to celebrate a high-school send-off. I also learned that day that I had been nominated as the Gatorade Player of the Year in Texas.

Needless to say, my adrenaline was pumping from Friday morning until game time. Then we had a good night, beating North Mesquite 76-7.

I played the first half and I caught nine passes for 153 yards and scored five touchdowns. I did not realize that I was so close to breaking the All-Time 6A (big school) record for receiving yards. In the second quarter, to my surprise, my coach said, “One more catch and you’re in the record books.”

A few moments later, it happened. Don’t get me wrong, I work hard at my craft. But I’ve had great offensive lines and quarterbacks working with me. This is a record for all of us, and I’m proud to be a part of it.

Sunday, I received a call to appear on Fox Sports Southwest, a Dallas sports-news channel, to discuss breaking the record. It aired right after the Cowboy game Sunday night. Interviews are still difficult for me, especially on television, but what an honor to have that opportunity. I know the more I work on being good in interviews with the media the better I’ll get it, but it’s still awkward.

After I left the television station on Sunday night, things got a little crazy. A storm blew in from seemingly nowhere, and we had a few tornadoes that touched down around us. Luckily, besides a few tree limbs, we had no damage. Mother Nature is a beast.

Storms or not, we had to get back to work on Monday ,and I officially completed my online English 4 class that I’ve been taking. Finishing that was something I had to do in order to graduate early, so I’m very excited about that. It’s one less thing for me to worry about.

We play Tyler Lee this week. It’s supposed to be a wet one, so I guess more rain is coming. I’ve been waiting for this Ohio State and Wisconsin game, and I expect the Buckeyes will keep the wins rolling.

Thank you to the fans for the love on Twitter last week, I really do appreciate it. I already feel like I’m a part of the Buckeye Family and it means a lot.

Go Bucks.

Follow along during the journey of Jaxon Smith-Njigba every week at Lettermen Row or follow the future Ohio State wide receiver on Twitter.

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