Senior Tackle: Focused on playoffs, Jaxon Smith-Njigba signs off

by:Jaxon Smith-Njigba•11/07/19

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.

What a week it’s been, and there were some real, lasting memories made for me on Friday night.

It was my last regular-season game in my high school stadium. It was senior night. My future position coach Brian Hartline was in attendance. I wanted to leave it all out on the field and put on a show, and I think we did that. We won a tough game against an athletic Mesquite team, and I had 9 catches for 327 yards and 4 touchdowns.

I’m so thankful for a big night to celebrate with my teammates and coaches. I’m truly going to miss high school football.

Early Saturday morning, my phone was going crazy because one of my catches from Friday made it on ESPN as a top play. That was surreal to see and really exciting for me and my family.

This week we have an off date before heading into the playoffs, which is allowing me to take my official visit to Columbus this weekend. I’ll be getting back to Ohio State for the third time this season, which has been so good for me.

I’m most looking forward to visualizing what a typical weekend will look like for me as a college player, because I’ve not had a chance to see that yet — from game preparation and beyond. I also want to discuss my upcoming class schedule with academic advisors, because my goal this weekend is to have the best understanding possible of what will be expected of me once I’m on campus, football and class-wise, on January 5.

It’s right around the corner.

Jaxon Smith Njigba-Ohio State-Buckeyes-Ohio State football

Ohio State commit Jaxon Smith-Njigba will be back on campus with the Buckeyes this week. (Birm/Lettermen Row)

Also, it was so great to see Ohio State in the No. 1 spot of the College Football Playoff rankings. It’s an exciting time to become a Buckeye and I can’t wait. I can’t wait to be in Columbus tomorrow and to continue watching the Buckeyes all the way to a national championship in January.

As we turn our focus here in Texas to the playoff, I need to make sure I am focused as well. So for now, this will be the last entry of my Senior Tackle. I want to thank Lettermen Row for allowing me to journal my final weeks of high-school. It’s not something that I would have done without this opportunity, and it was good for me to put myself out there a bit.  Thank you, readers and Buckeyes fans, for following along.

I know I’m joining the best college culture in the country. See you in January.

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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