Ryan Day has to be smiling like the rest of Buckeye Nation as an NFL team just broke the bank open for a former Ohio State football star
Former Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba just got paid big by the Seattle Seahawks, and should have an impact on the Buckeyes.
The Ohio State Buckeyes put wide receivers into the NFL unlike any other college football program. Former Ohio State wide receivers guru Brian Hartline exited this offseason to take his first head job at South Florida. When Hartline exited, there was some worry that Ohio State would fall off a bit with how they produce wideouts.
Fortunately for the Buckeyes, the program is far bigger than any assistant coach, or head coach for that matter. Ohio State added another well-regarded wideouts coach with Cortez Hankton and brought in two talented freshmen for next season between Chris Henry Jr. and Jerquaden Guilford.
With the way former Ohio State wideouts keep getting paid in the NFL, it should be hard for recruits to say no to Columbus.
Buckeyes getting paid in the NFL is always good news for Ohio State recruiting
First reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, former Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba agreed to a four-year contract extension with the Seattle Seahawks worth $168.6 million. The new deal makes JSN the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL on a per year basis at $42.15 million.
While Smith-Njigba is now the NFL’s highest-paid wideout, another Buckeye isn’t far behind. New York Jets WR Garrett Wilson is making $32.5 million on a per year basis. Former Buckeye Terry McLaurin is making $32.5 million with the Washington Commanders per season, and New Orleans Saints WR Chris Olave is going to get a big payday at some point as well.
JSN’s 2021 season at Ohio State he put up straight video game numbers with 1,606 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. Injury limited JSN to three games played in 2022, but he was still the No. 20 overall pick by the Seahawks in the 2022 NFL Draft. The draft slot ended up being a huge steal for the Seahawks, as JSN just went for 1,793 receiving yards on a Super Bowl-winning team a year after he eclipsed 1,100 yards.
Next up for Ohio State to be a first-round wideout will be Carnell Tate this season, then it’s Jeremiah Smith next year. With plenty of talent behind Smith already, it doesn’t appear the wide receiver factory in Columbus is slowing down.
The key for Ohio State will be its recruiting classes over the next couple of years, but they’re already in a strong spot with five-star Jamier Brown committed in the class of 2027.
Anytime a Buckeye gets paid, it’s good news for Ohio State recruiting and they sell it as such. JSN’s big day is no different.
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