Jaxon Smith-Njigba, C.J. Stroud shatter Rose Bowl, Ohio State records against Utah
Ohio State sophomore wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the school's single-game receiving yards recorder-holder after breaking Terry Glenn's 1995 mark in the third quarter of the Rose Bowl against Utah.
His 10th catch of the game put him at 257 yards. Smith-Njigba finished the game with a mind-boggling 15 catches, 347 yards and three touchdowns as Ohio State scored a dramatic 48-45 victory over the Utes. His receiving yard total is a new Rose Bowl record, obliterating the mark previously held by USC's Keyshawn Johnson. In fact, his 347 yards are the most any player has ever had in a bowl game.
Smith-Njigba broke four team records this season in his breakout year for the Buckeyes. The Texan broke three Saturday against the Utes.
Smith-Njigba broke Cris Carter's 37-year-old bowl game receiving record in the first half with 185 yards. In the second half, he surpassed Glenn's 253-yard day against Pittsburgh in 1995.
In the first half he broke David Boston's single-season receiving yards record.
Smith-Njigba was flanked most of the season by two potential NFL first-round picks in Garrett Wilson and and Chris Olave. But in games that Wilson missed, Smith-Njigba had 240 yards and 15 catches against Nebraska and his record night in the Rose Bowl.
The 15 catches against Nebraska broke David Boston's 1997 record. He matched his own record Saturday.
"Opportunities came my way, and it's what I prayed for. I can't be surprised by what I prayed for," Smith-Njigba said after his record-breaking outing.
For his part, quarterback C.J. Stroud broke Rose Bowl records for passing yards (573) – which also broke Ohio State's single-game record – and touchdowns (six).
Jaxon Smith-Njigba breaks Keyshawn Johnson's Rose Bowl record
NFL great and former USC Trojans star Keyshawn Johnson had 216 yards in the 1996 Rose Bowl against Northwestern, but his record fell in the third quarter with Smith-Njigba's eighth catch of the game.
Johnson went on to be the first pick in the 1996 NFL draft and earned three Pro Bowl nods in an 11-year career. Smith-Njigba should be one of college football's top receivers in 2022 and certainly appears to be on a trajectory to be a high pick in the 2023 NFL draft.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, CJ Stroud break Ohio State, Rose Bowl records
