When you’re a high-level FBS football recruit playing against guys who might top out in high school, you’re sometimes going to look like you’re on a whole different level.
But Friday night in Texas, 2020 Ohio State WR commit Jaxon Smith-Njigba did something more than that.
He’s ranked as the No. 57 prospect in the 2020 class, the 7th-best player in all of Texas and the 9th-best wide receiver in the class, and it’s not hard to see why.
Smith-Njigba put up 325 receiving yards and four touchdowns as his Rockwall team smoked Mesquite, 66-42.
Their QB, Braedyn Locke, went 15-for-25 for 415 yards and five scores, mostly to Smith-Njigba. That works out to 16.6 yards per attempt and 27.7 yards per completion.
Because you’ve spent time online, you’re probably cynical enough to be wondering if this was against some terrible Bad News Bears-type program full of no-hope players that had no chance.
Nope! The Mesquite Skeeters play Class 6A, the highest class in Texas high school football. They’re 7-2 this year and their quarterback is a Minnesota commit.
They held their previous two opponents to 14 and 10 points, so they’re not so defensively-inept, offense-only juggernaut, either.
This is a big-time program, playing big-boy football in Texas, and Smith-Njigba still blew up like Vesuvius.
But that’s not the really impressive part of it.
No, the real story here is HOW Smith-Njigba did it.
Just scroll through these highlights from one game against a strong opponent and try to figure out how there are supposedly six better players than this in Texas.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (@jaxon_smith1) is something else.
The Ohio State commit fights through tackles, shows off the speed and somehow stays in bound on this 70+ yard TD. @rockwalljfndfb leads Mesquite 21-7.@SportsDayHS | #txhsfb pic.twitter.com/7V1y8QoNI4
— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) November 2, 2019
Here’s a better look at Smith-Njigba tight-roping the sidelines on that play.
HOW!!!!! #JFND @jaxon_smith1 pic.twitter.com/SYNJ3s9snd
— Rockwall ISD Sports (@RISDAthletics) November 2, 2019
If #txhsfb had a logo, it would be this. pic.twitter.com/PnRhC5o8Fn
— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) November 2, 2019
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (@jaxon_smith1) is ridiculous, Part III.
The Ohio State pledge goes for 55 yards on this TD.
He now has 216 yards and 2 TDs, and we’re still in the first half.@rockwalljfndfb leads Mesquite 42-21. @SportsDayHS | #txhsfb pic.twitter.com/1q2NGIrmI4
— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) November 2, 2019
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (@jaxon_smith1) is ridiculous, Part IV.
The Ohio State commit now has 258 yards receiving and 3 TDs. Beautiful ball by Braedyn Locke. @rockwalljfndfb leads Mesquite 49-28. @SportsDayHS | #txhsfb pic.twitter.com/9oiLPruzXh
— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) November 2, 2019
It’s senior night at Rockwall, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba is capping his final regular season high school game with a signature performance. @jaxon_smith1 has 289 receiving yards and 4 TDs. Still a quarter to go. @rockwalljfndfb leads Mesquite 59-35.@SportsDayHS | #txhsfb pic.twitter.com/FMYIrblFce
— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) November 2, 2019
LOL. My view was blocked by the sideline, but it doesn’t even matter, because watch Ohio State commit Jaxon Smith-Njigba high point this catch.@jaxon_smith1 now has 325 yards receiving and 4 TDs. @SportsDayHS | #txhsfb pic.twitter.com/B0zA9XMDDw
— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) November 2, 2019
Heir apparent to Olave.
Sign Brian Hartline to a life-long contract NOW!!!
In 2021, Ohio State is going to debut the “seven-wide” formation which will prove to be utterly unstoppable.
Zone 6 getting re-stocked.