Scarlet Sunrise: Jaxon Smith-Njigba logs top three-cone, 20-yard shuttle times among WRs
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Jaxon Smith-Njigba logs top three-cone, 20-yard shuttle times among WRs
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is back. The former Ohio State wide receiver made his return to the field Saturday at the NFL Combine after missing practically the entire 2022 season with a nagging hamstring injury. Although he didn’t run the 40-yard dash — he’ll be doing that at the Buckeyes’ Pro Day on March 22 — he did log the top times in the three cone and 20-yard shuttle among all participating wide receivers.
Smith-Njigba ran a 6.57 in the three-cone drill. To put that in perspective, no other wideout at this year’s NFL Combine ran faster than 6.85 in that event. Last year, the top wide receiver finisher in the three cone was Memphis’ Calvin Austin, and he clocked in at 6.65.
Smith-Njigba also ran a 3.93 in 20-yard shuttle. No other participating wideout in this year’s NFL Combine notched a time below 4.00 seconds in that event. And no wide receiver in last year’s pre-draft showcase went below the four-second mark in the shuttle, either. Smith-Njigba was cruising.
There haven’t been as many questions about his short-distance speed, at least compared to his long-distance speed. That’s why Smith-Njigba’s 40 time will be critical at his Pro Day. Still, he’s confident that when he does run that much-discussed event, he will prove his WR1 status.
“Wish I could do it here and get it over with, but, you know, it’s fine,” Smith-Njigba said of the 40 Friday. “We’ll take more time and surprise a lot of people I guess at Pro Day.”
Smith-Njigba continued: “I’m ready, I’m ready to show people I can do it.”
Why Luke Wypler believes declaring for NFL Draft was ‘right decision’
Former Ohio State center Luke Wypler didn’t necessarily expect to declare for the NFL Draft after just three years with the program when he joined the Buckeyes back in 2020. But here he is, at the NFL Combine, reflecting on his career in Columbus.
Wypler was asked why he decided not to come back to Ohio State for a third year as the Buckeyes’ starting center.
“Coming out was something that really weighed on me,” Wypler said Saturday morning. “Having a great program like Ohio State and the NFL is two decisions. I guess you couldn’t have really made a bad decision. I kept telling myself whatever I choose I knew I was going to be all right.”
For the full story, go here.
Buckeyes hoops pulls off largest comeback in women’s Big Ten Tournament history
Ohio State women’s basketball is now in the Big Ten Tournament championship against No. 7 and second-seeded Iowa after completing a 24-point comeback versus top-seeded and No. 2 Indiana in the semifinals Saturday. That marked the largest come-from-behind victory in the event’s history.
Indiana had beaten Ohio State twice before this season. This time, however, the Buckeyes got the upper hand, 79-75. Sophomore guard/forward Taylor Thierry picked a good time for the second double-double of her career, registering 19 points and 12 rebounds in the win. Ohio State needed every bit of that performance, plus, notably, senior guard Jacy Sheldon reached double figures for the first time since returning to the lineup.
The Buckeyes found themselves down, 46-26, at halftime. They pulled within 10 points by the end of the third quarter, though. And then they outscored the Hoosiers, 26-12, in the fourth quarter to cap the comeback. Ohio State held Indiana to just 4-of-19 shooting, or 21.1%, in the final frame. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes were north of 40% from the field in that period and knocked down 12-of-13 free throws.
Counting down
Buckeyes vs. Indiana: 181 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 265 days
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