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Jaxon Smith-Njigba named to Biletnikoff Award preseason watch list

Spencer-Holbrookby:Spencer Holbrook•07/21/22•

SpencerHolbrook

Jaxon Smith-Njigba by Birm -- Lettermen Row
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is on the Biletnikoff Award watch list. (Birm/Lettermen Row)

COLUMBUS — Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba doesn’t need to do much to prove he’s the best in the country at his position.

He already did that last season, when he had more than 1,600 yards receiving, including a record-breaking Rose Bowl. But there’s one thing Smith-Njigba didn’t do last season, and it was out of his control.

The third-year receiver wasn’t a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the top pass-catcher in the country, last fall. A certain mistake by the voters, that can be corrected this year if Smith-Njigba has a special encore season like he is expected to have.

Smith-Njigba was named to the Biletnikoff Award preseason watch list Thursday as he aims to become the first Buckeyes receiver since Terry Glenn in 1995 to capture the honor.

After a season of putting up insane numbers last year, despite having two first-round picks at receiver with him in the offense, Smith-Njigba is back with a chance to break Ohio State records.

“I don’t see myself as a superstar,” he told Lettermen Row. “I see myself as the same that I was last year, two years ago, a guy building, trying to stay consistent, keep putting in the work. That’s it. That’s all I know.”

He’ll also have a good shot to win a major award, one that has eluded Buckeyes pass-catchers for nearly 30 years.

Buckeyes on preseason watch lists, All-American teams

Quarterback C.J. Stroud, Smith-Njigba and running back TreVeyon Henderson were all named to the preseason watch list for the Maxwell Award, which is given annually to the top player in all of college football on Monday.

Stroud, the Buckeyes second-year starting quarterback, was among 35 quarterbacks named to the Davey O’Brien Award watch list, and he is among the preseason favorites to win the award. That watch list came out Tuesday.

TreVeyon Henderson and Smith-Njigba were both named preseason first-team All-Americans by the Walter Camp Football Foundation. Another pair of Buckeyes, tackle Dawand Jones and kicker Noah Ruggles, were second-team selections. That list came out at the beginning of July.

Quarterback C.J. Stroud was not on that list. He was beat out by Alabama’s Bryce Young and USC’s Caleb Williams for the two quarterback spots.

Henderson was also named to the preseason watch list for the Doak Walker Award, given annually to the country’s top running back, on Wednesday.

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