Scarlet Sunrise: Jaxon Smith-Njigba flashing 'big-play potential' for Buckeyes
Good morning, Ohio State fans, and welcome to the Scarlet Sunrise. Football will always be our focus, but every day we’ll cover news, notes and analysis from across Buckeyes sports. Join us each morning to get caught up on everything you missed in the world of Ohio State football, recruiting, basketball and more in Scarlet Sunrise.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba flashing ‘big-play potential’ for Ohio State
The potential has always been evident for Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
A record-breaking high school career in Texas. Toe-tap touchdowns to begin his freshman season. A breakout offseason. But now, Smith-Njigba is beginning to truly back up the hype on the field.
He had seven catches for 145 and two touchdowns for the Buckeyes in the loss to Oregon. And he’s just getting started becoming a star.
“You can see what his potential is,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said Tuesday. “And I think he’s very, very good in the slot. He can change directions, he can wiggle free against the underneath coverage players really well and has big-play potential. And made some really big catches for us, had some really good routes. So again, he’s he’s got a chance to be really good for us.”
Smith-Njigba impressed Saturday, even in the Buckeyes loss. And he’s just getting better from here.
New Tim May Podcast
On this week’s episode of the Tim May Podcast, Tim and Lettermen Row senior writer Austin Ward dive into the Buckeyes loss, and Tim is joined by Marlon Kerner, a first-time guest of the podcast.
Kerner was a three-year Ohio State defensive back who played in more than 30 games for the Buckeyes in the 1990s. He was drafted in the third round of the 1995 NFL draft by Buffalo and saw some time as a starting cornerback for the Bills.
Kerner is well-versed in his knowledge of the game on the field and knowing what makes players tick off of it. For this week’s episode, Tim asked Kerner to do a detailed review of the Ohio State defense against Oregon.
The former Buckeyes cornerback diagnoses the issues that need to be addressed, potential solutions for Ohio State moving forward and how the Buckeyes can get back on track with all of their preseason goals still ahead of them.
Do drastic schematic changes need to be made? Or is a personnel shift the most logical move two weeks into the season?
Find out those answers and plenty more on this episode of the Tim May Podcast as Tim, Austin and Marlon break it all down.
Weekend Kickoff presented by Bryant Heating and Cooling Systems
Lettermen Row Weekend Kickoff presented by Bryant Heating & Cooling Systems: The Whatever It Takes Pregame Show is back!
The Lettermen Row crew will be live from Urban Meyer’s Pint House in Dublin’s Bridge Park on Thursday night for a full preview of the Buckeyes attempt to turn their season around against Tulsa after a brutal loss to Oregon.
The next edition of the show will be Thursday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m., and there will be plenty of Ohio State guests on hand to break down the pursuit of a win after the Buckeyes rare loss. Come out to see Zach Boren, Robert Landers, Tyvis Powell, Justin Zwick and other former Buckeyes greats give their insight about the upcoming game with the Golden Hurricane and give predictions about yet another nonconference matchup in the Horseshoe.
Get set with the panel of former Buckeyes with analysis, stories, delicious food from Urban Meyer’s Pint House in Dublin and some cold Coors Light. Don’t miss the next show Thursday at 7 p.m.
Lettermen Row Weekend Kickoff presented by Bryant Heating & Cooling Systems: The Whatever It Takes Pregame Show is proudly sponsored by Coors Light and Byers Auto!
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