Before Jaxon Smith-Njigba became one of the NFL’s top wide receivers, he was already a star long before Sundays. His rise did not happen overnight. It started years earlier in Texas.
Smith-Njigba grew up in Rockwall, Texas, a town just outside Dallas. He attended Rockwall High School and quickly became one of the best players in the country. By his senior year, he was unstoppable. He recorded more than 2,000 receiving yards and scored 35 touchdowns. Defenses simply could not slow him down.
His playoff performances were even more impressive. In one postseason game, Smith-Njigba caught 15 passes for 258 yards and scored 6 touchdowns. That game alone helped cement his status as an elite recruit.
Recruiting services took notice. According to 247 Sports, Smith-Njigba ranked as the No. 15 player in the 2020 class and the No. 2 wide receiver in the nation. Despite that, his name often came up less than others at the college level. Looking back, it is clear the talent was always there.
Growing up so close to Dallas shaped him as well. Smith-Njigba was a huge Cowboys fan. His Texas roots still matter to him today. He even has tattoos of the state of Texas and the Cowboys logo on his arm.
After high school, Smith-Njigba chose to attend Ohio State. He spent 3 seasons with the Buckeyes before declaring for the 2023 NFL Draft. Ohio State is known for producing elite wide receivers, and Smith-Njigba was part of that tradition.
His college career had highs and lows. His breakout came in 2021, when he posted massive numbers and became one of the most dangerous receivers in college football. His most memorable performance came in the 2022 Rose Bowl. In that game, he caught 15 passes for 347 yards and scored 3 touchdowns. Those totals remain Rose Bowl records.
Injuries slowed him down after that. A hamstring issue limited him to just 3 games in his final college season. Even so, NFL teams believed in the talent. That belief paid off.
Now with the Seattle Seahawks, Smith-Njigba has fully arrived. In 2025, he led the NFL in receiving yards and established himself as one of the league’s best at his position. What looks like a sudden breakout was actually years in the making.
From Rockwall to Ohio State to the NFL spotlight, Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s journey shows that the foundation was always strong. The rest of the league is just catching up now.
