88R27427 JRI-D
By: Holland H.R. No. 1534
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Rockwall native Jaxon Smith-Njigba was chosen by the
Seattle Seahawks with the 20th pick in the first round of the
National Football League Draft on April 27, 2023; and
WHEREAS, The top wide receiver taken off the board,
Mr. Smith-Njigba first gained widespread acclaim at Rockwall High
School, where he helped the Yellowjackets advance to the 2019 UIL 6A
Division 1 state semifinals; that season, he caught 104 passes for
2,094 yards and 35 touchdowns and collected countless awards,
including selection as the Gatorade Texas Player of the Year and as
an All-American by Sports Illustrated and USA Today; he finished
his high school career with 5,346 receiving yards and 82 touchdowns
in 44 games, earning a place in the record books among the top
wideouts in Texas football history; and
WHEREAS, Several top programs offered Mr. Smith-Njigba a
scholarship, but he decided to enroll at Ohio State University;
after playing in seven games as a freshman, he was selected to start
at slot receiver heading into his sophomore year; on November 6,
2021, against the University of Nebraska, he set a school record
with 15 receptions for 240 yards, which was the second highest
receiving total in OSU history at the time; later that season, he
led the Buckeyes to victory with a spectacular performance in the
Rose Bowl, setting an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision
record for yards in a bowl game with 347; moreover, his 1,606
receiving yards that year broke the Big 10 Conference record, and he
received All-American third team honors from the Associated Press;
although a hamstring injury limited his junior season to just three
games, he declared for the NFL draft and was one of the premier
pass-catchers available in the 2023 field; and
WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, this proud Texan benefits from
a fine family that includes his parents, Jami Smith and Maada
Smith-Njigba, and his brother, Canaan Smith-Njigba, a fellow
professional athlete and current outfielder for the Pittsburgh
Pirates; and
WHEREAS, Through his hard work and perseverance, Jaxon
Smith-Njigba has distinguished himself as one of the top
professional football prospects in the nation, and his many fans
throughout Texas are looking forward to following his career in the
NFL; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Jaxon Smith-Njigba on his
selection in the 2023 NFL Draft and extend to him sincere best
wishes for continued success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Smith-Njigba as an expression of high regard by
the Texas House of Representatives.