A hot-button topic in the college football world is players missing bowl games to protect their draft stock, but it doesn't come up as often for playoff teams. When players are playing for a national championship, there's an expectation that they'll play if they're healthy.
ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay, however, thinks Jaxon Smith-Njigba being unavailable for the Buckeyes in the playoffs this year after dealing with a hamstring injury throughout the season is about protecting his future.
"I want to be out there competing with my brothers more than anything," Smith-Njigba said Monday, per ESPN. "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."
McShay, for his part, isn't buying it. He had some pointed criticism for Smith-Njigba after the comments were made (though he couched it as NFL scouts saying it).
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"Love to see him play, obviously NFL scouts would love to see him play," he said on ESPN. "There are a lot of reports from NFL scouts I've talked to that have said, 'He's healthy enough to play and he's protecting himself for the draft.'"
McShay expounded with a message to all NFL prospects.
"I've got news for every prospect out there: NFL teams know," he said. "They know what you had for lunch last Thursday. They are going to know if you are healthy or not. And if you are healthy enough to play, you need to be out there with your teammates and play."
He then turned his attention back to Smith-Njigba, saying not playing could only hurt his draft stock.
"...The difference is with Jaxon Smith-Njigba, he is like a late first, early second rounder," McShay said. "He's a great college player, great slot receiver. But he has some drops, doesn't have exceptional size, doesn't have exceptional speed. There were some things coming into the year, after the great season he had, scouts were pointing to that said, 'I don't think he's a lock to go top-15, top-20.' Now the fact that he's not playing certainly isn't going to help those odds."
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Smith-Njigba's family got wind of McShay's comments and was displeased, starting with his brother Canaan, who is in the Pittsburgh Pirates' organization.
If he was healthy he would be playing.. like what?? We not protecting our “Draft stock” they know who JSN is when healthy. You sorry @McShay13 and so wrong to be on tv making these false claims. 🤡 https://t.co/og0Rg5nj3t
— Canaan Smith-Njigba (@CanaanSmith_) December 7, 2022
His father, Maada, also talked about Smith-Njigba's "limitations."
Being w my son yesterday for his first day of rehab and seeing his limitations for myself gave me peace w our families choice to get my son healthy. Encouraging him play would be selfish and abusive. I’m at peace bc I know he’s in the right hands 4 recovery. https://t.co/WQKZtWDF65
— Le Puma Noir (@MNjigba) December 7, 2022
For as long as players miss bowl games, they're going to be questioned, and it's only going to get worse once the playoffs open up to 12 teams. Smith-Njigba can likely help his stock with a strong NFL Combine performance, but he also has the advantage of being an Ohio State receiver — a known quantity at this point.
We'll see how this conversation develops as the college football season ends and the NFL Draft approaches. Smith-Njigba will undoubtedly be asked about not playing, but if nothing else his family seems comfortable with him sitting out the Peach Bowl against Georgia.