OSU Jaxon Smith-Njigba skip playoffs and enter NFL draft

In addition to wanting to avoid further injury, it could be that he and the coaching staff did not feel he'd be recovered enough to contribute significantly on Jan 31.

This UGA-OSU match up sucks. Can't figure out who I'd rather win. Go Meteor?

I'll be shocked if a few other Buckeye starters don't follow suit.  

Pretty similar to the Corum situation.  They both had bad lower leg injuries and both required/will require surgery.  Both tried to fight through it and couldn't.  Good luck to both in the league.  Any team would be happy to have them I'm sure.

i honestly would've been stunned to see him choose to come back for one game.

ohio state guys are, without exception, me-first guys.  he wasn't going to come back to help the team, that's for sure.

Not rushing back from an injury doesn't count as skipping. For all we know we is opting for surgery he put off all year trying to get back for Michigan. Hamstring injuries are hard and pushing yourself to come back is how you make it worse which is what he did already earlier this year. Its why I'm worried about Morris right now. I think his pushing to try to play the OSU game might put his participation in the playoff in jeapordy 

Ohio State fans are the most spoiled fanbase in the country (besides maybe Alabama), so of course they thought JSN would come back.  Instead, they are the same team that lost on November 26 after spending 365 days preparing for the team they hate the most.  In order for this OSU team to win even one playoff game, this team has to be very different than what team we played on the schedule two Saturdays ago.  Their fanbase will of course expect them to be different because hey they have had everything else go their way the last 15 years.  I believe they are in for a rude awakening when they play Georgia and the best thing is they are all getting their hopes up again just to get blown out and then begin trashing their QB and Head Coach again.  

Smart move. It's not like he'd improve his draft stock or anything if he played. He's already one of, if not, the top WR in this class.

On a separate but somewhat related note - CJ Stroud can definitely do damage to his draft stock by playing against another stout defense.

Would hate to see that little fuck get injured but there is always a chance. Higher probably of him just shitting the bed however. 

Ryan Day is chewing him out for making the announcement public. Would have been better to send smoke signals to Georgia.

The team, the team, the… oh wait, never mind.  

Happy to hear it simply because it is OSU. This is the modern era of football I guess, but seems like he's quiting on his teammates when there is so much history to potentially be made.

I still think opting out of games that you're getting paid a scholarship to play in is a shitty thing to do, even with so many players doing it.  But it used to be justified with "it's just a meaningless bowl game."  (Which was always a bunk argument given the reactions of players who win one.  Also bunk because it suggests it's cool to just quit the moment you're eliminated from national or conference championship contention.)

But now you got guys bailing on the playoffs?  So much for "it's just a meaningless game."  I like a little OSU schadenfreude as much as the next guy, and I know JSN's been hurt, but if he's healthy enough to play, and he chooses not to, it's a crappy move.

Dude saw us destroy them..... has watched GA play and realized it isn't going to be any better....

"I'mma..... take a pass here, prepare for the NFL draft"

Not surprising. Hasn’t played all year. Better to prep for combines and pro days. Crazy how good last years OSU WR corp was. 

This is not an opt-out situation.

From ESPN:  "I want to be out there competing with my brothers more than anything," Smith-Njigba told ESPN on Monday. "The decision to turn pro was made after I was unable to come back on multiple occasions during the season and the doctors determined I would be unable to participate in the playoffs."  

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/35189741/ohio-state-wr…

I'm pretty surprised - but seeing as he's dealing with injuries I guess it makes some sense? Dont fault the kid, wish him the best of luck in the pros.

Wouldn't matter if he played. Bucks gonna get spanked!

He knows OSU is only playing in 1 game

Can’t risk injury just to play for the national title

In other Bucknut related news - but not new thread worthy - it looks like Kevin Wilson is going to be head coach at Tulsa.  That's OC Kevin Wilson who didn't actually call any plays, was just rescued by THE after he got run out at IU for abusive conduct.  So not sure how big a hit this is to their staff.  

OSU is putting an ungodly number of WR1 and WR2's in the league. 

Perhaps NIL can sort out how to buy these athletes injury insurance and pay the premiums. Everybody wins

Culture problems in Columbus.

It's gotta be that he won't be right from the injury in time for game.  That makes this no real decision at all.  Dude is still hurt and the season isn't gonna be long enough for him to come back. Happy trails.

And I'm sure OSU fans will kindly respect his decision.

Injury must be a season-ender.

So much for the narrative that they're soft...

Not sad for OSU, but it is significant on the field. JSN and MHJr together on the field would have been a big deal and a worry for Georgia.

Unless I’m missing something, this doesn’t suggest that he’d be ready to play in the playoff. Sounds more like it would be questionable at best and he’s just going to fold the tent now and not try to get in game shape.

Somewhat surprised; I figured he’d be back for the playoff.

This kind of sinks OSU’s slim-ish hopes, I’d think. 

While we are on this topic, can anyone tell me one reason why Marvin Harrison Jr. should play next season? He's easily the #1 WR in next years class and would easily be this year's #1 WR.

Who's throwing to him next season?