Jaxon Smith-Njigba makes a convincing case: 'I'm the best WR in Texas'
ARLINGTON, Texas -- There's an old cliche saying that the greats step up in the biggest moments of the most pivotal games.
Yeah, it may be cliche, but when it occurs the rest of the world takes notice -- and Jaxon Smith-Njigba had one of those moments on Friday night in AT&T Stadium.
The Rivals100 wide receiver broke through with a historic performance, reeling in 15 receptions for 252 yards and six total touchdowns as Rockwall upended local powerhouse Allen in the area round of the Class 6A playoffs. In the process, Smith-Njigba rewrote the records yet again this season.
The Ohio State commitment, who already etched himself in the Texas state record books for becoming the all-time leader in career receiving yardage in the Class 6A level -- furthered that legacy by becoming just the third-ever Texas high school football player to eclipse 5,000 receiving yards in his career.
Smith-Njigba caught five touchdowns passes in the first half of Friday's playoff bout with Allen. His sixth came in the third quarter as he found the end zone rushing as Rockwall edged Allen, 60-59, to advance onto the third round. The future Buckeye wasn't out to make history, but if that's what it took to notch a victory, then so be it.
"It just means everything," Smith-Njigba told Rivals after the game. "Every time I come out here, it's all about winning. I do whatever it takes to win the win and everyone has confidence in me and I came out here to prove it. I showed myself out here. I showed everything."
When Smith-Njigba says everything, he means everything.
The six touchdowns --, which came via jump balls, one-handed grabs, vertical throws downfield, slants at the goal-line and even rushing the ball -- were a product of offseason activity that got underway around this time last year when the aforementioned Allen bounced Rockwall out of the postseason in the same round.
Quarterback Braedyn Locke, then a freshman, began working out with Smith-Njigba and improving their on-field chemistry together to be better prepared for games of this magnitude.
While Smith-Njigba attempted to defer attention away from his own accomplishments and extend credit to his quarterback, he finally cracked when it came to surmising his incredible effort in what was unquestionably the biggest game of the year.
"Every time I play, I want someone to look at, the people on the visitor's side, to ask, 'Who's that guy? What's his name?'" Smith-Njigba admitted. "I come out here with a chip on my shoulder and I know I can't lose 1-on-1 match-ups. My coaches put me in a great position to win. This summer, I competed against some of the best defensive backs in the country, so coming out here, that definitely helps a lot."
"I'm just putting myself on the map," he continued. "I'm the best wide receiver in Texas. It's hard, but it's as simple as that. I'm the best receiver in Texas on the best offense in Texas, and I use that to motivate me to do what I love every week."
Smith-Njigba made a convincing case. He's already established himself in the Rivals100, a top-15 wide receiver in the country and a top-10 prospect in Texas. The new Rivals rankings will be unveiled next week and Smith-Njigba has been one of the players generating the most buzz this entire season.
One observer has been Rockwall head football coach Rodney Webb, who admitted that he often is clueless about stats and production while he's coaching on the sidelines during games.
"All I know is he had a great game," Webb laughed after the win before then putting Smith-Njigba's legendary performance into context. To Webb, Smith-Njigba is his most dangerous weapon on offense, but has impressed in so many others way, including his offseason preparation, his leadership, his work ethic and ultimately, his competitiveness.
"He's very quiet and unassuming off the field. He's a leader by example, a guy that brings it and it doesn't matter what you ask him to do, he's not above anything," Webb explained. "As great a receiver he is running routes and catching balls, watch him block, watch him away from the ball, watch him come in and play defense and cover kicks. He's the holder for PATs and field goals. There's no task that's beneath him and he works hard in games and in practices to become the player he is. That's through work ethic. There's a lot of good athletes like that on the field and he's there because of his work ethic."
"It's John Wooden's definition of competitiveness greatness," Webb added. "Giving your best when your best is needed. Jaxon is all over the top of that pyramid."