Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba Talk OSU, Super Bowl Goals, More in B/R Interview
February 7, 2024
Chris Olave and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are former college teammates and record-setting wide receivers at Ohio State who figure to help anchor their respective NFL teams for years to come.
But that's not all they have in common.
They both know exactly what they want in 2024.
"Super Bowl," Smith-Njigba told Bleacher Report without hesitation when asked what would make a successful season for him and the Seattle Seahawks.
"Super Bowl, baby," Olave added. "And it's in New Orleans."
Olave's New Orleans Saints and Smith-Njigba's Seahawks might end up running into each other in January if they are going to make that goal a reality. After all, they both finished with winning records at 9-8 but missed the playoffs in 2023, meaning the expectation will be they each take the next step and guide their teams into the postseason.
That might require a second-year leap for Smith-Njigba, who was a first-round pick in Seattle but part of a crowded wide receiver room that also featured DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.
He still finished with 63 catches for 628 yards and four touchdowns and notably hauled in the game-winning touchdown grab in the final 30 seconds of a Monday Night Football win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
NFL @NFLLock to JSN for the lead!<br><br>๐บ: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PHIvsSEA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PHIvsSEA</a> on ESPN/ABC<br>๐ฑ: Stream on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFLPlus?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFLPlus</a> <a href="https://t.co/bbJNB6yPkz">https://t.co/bbJNB6yPkz</a> <a href="https://t.co/t7q0x5073q">pic.twitter.com/t7q0x5073q</a>
"I'm definitely grateful for the season that I had," he said. "Long season, but I feel like it was a successful season. We fell short on some goals and some team goals as well, but I felt like I got my groove as the season went on. So that felt good, and I felt good setting myself up for a great Year 2."
As for Olave, he was once again impressive in his second year in the league with 87 catches for 1,123 yards and five touchdowns. They were all career-high marks as he surpassed the 1,000-yard total for the second straight year since the Saints selected him with a first-round pick in 2022.
"It went really well," Olave said of the 2023 campaign. "The first goal is always winning, but just as a personal season it went well. I feel like I can maximize my potential a bit more, but I had great teammates and great coaches around me. I'm excited to keep growing and keep moving forward."
NFL @NFLJameis to Olave! What a grab<br><br>๐บ: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NOvsMIN?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NOvsMIN</a> on FOX<br>๐ฑ: Stream on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFLPlus?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFLPlus</a> <a href="https://t.co/kECSNGbyLL">https://t.co/kECSNGbyLL</a> <a href="https://t.co/cV27iOQ3bG">pic.twitter.com/cV27iOQ3bG</a>
Moving forward will mean changes for both franchises.
The Seahawks announced on Jan. 10 they "amicably agreed with Pete Carroll" that he would no longer be the head coach. Instead, he moved into an advisory role with the organization as the team hired Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald to replace him as head coach.
Macdonald was the DC in Baltimore the past two years and helped the Ravens finish with the best record in the league and reach the AFC Championship Game this season. The defense led the league in points allowed and finished sixth in yards allowed, which stands in stark contrast to Seattle's group that was 25th in points allowed and 30th in yards allowed.
While Smith-Njigba is on the offensive side of the ball, he is familiar with what Macdonald brings to the table from the coach's time as the DC for rival Michigan.
"I've had the chance to say hello," the receiver said. "Real energetic, came across paths playing against him with the Team Up North. I'm looking forward to it, but it hurts me that I only got one year with Pete. But it is what it is, and I know the team is excited to go along this journey and start a new era."
There will also be some changes for the Saints, who fired longtime offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael after they finished a solid but unspectacular 14th in the league in yards while missing the playoffs.
NFL @NFLChris Olave over the top for 52 yards!<br><br>๐บ: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NOvsATL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NOvsATL</a> on FOX<br>๐ฑ: Stream on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFLPlus?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFLPlus</a> <a href="https://t.co/1dOevJjoZZ">https://t.co/1dOevJjoZZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/0oxVqq9SEc">pic.twitter.com/0oxVqq9SEc</a>
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported they are set to hire San Francisco 49ers' passing game specialist Klint Kubiak for the role but cannot finalize it until he coaches the NFC West team in Sunday's Super Bowl.
Before joining the 49ers, Kubiak was the passing game coordinator for the Denver Broncos and offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings.
"We had really good relationships with the offensive coaches my past two years, but I wish [Carmichael] the best moving forward," Olave said. "Having someone new come in means there's going to be a new scheme and new offense, so I'm excited to learn the playbook here and keep moving forward."
Olave and Smith-Njigba will both need to adjust to the coaching changes this offseason, but they still had time to team up with Bounty for the company's latest campaign. Bounty believes you can't have football without wings and you can't have wings without Bounty to clean it up, so it was fitting that a pair of former teammates and wide receiver wingmen were involved.
"Best paper towels in America," Smith-Njigba said.
"I'm excited to work with Bounty and to be out here in Vegas," Olave said of the company's two-story structure at Radio Row in Las Vegas for the Super Bowl. "This is a huge event, and I'm excited to be here this week."
This is not the first time Olave and Smith-Njigba have teamed up considering they were part of Ohio State's incredible 2020 and 2021 wide receiver rooms that also included at some point across the two years Garrett Wilson of the New York Jets, Jameson Williams of the Detroit Lions and Mavin Harrison Jr., who is on his way to becoming a top draft pick.
Even with all that recent talent, Olave remains the program's all-time leader with 35 touchdown catches. He is also second all-time with 2,711 receiving yards.
As for Smith-Njigba, he led the Buckeyes with 1,606 receiving yards in 2021 and then posted a school-record 347 receiving yards and three touchdowns in a Rose Bowl win over Utah with Olave and Wilson sitting out.
That was also the breakout game for Harrison, who caught three touchdowns before becoming the focal point of the offense in 2022 and 2023. The son of Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison leaves Ohio State as a Heisman Trophy finalist, Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and two-time All-American.
B/R NFL Scouting Department ranked him as the No. 1 overall player for the 2024 draft on its latest big board and listed him as the best hands, best route-runner and most pro-ready of all the wide receivers.
"He's going to be a top-tier talent," Olave said of Harrison. "Right when he steps into the league. He has all the potential in the world, but his work ethic is going to push him over the top. I'm excited to see what he does in the NFL and where he lands in the draft."
Smith-Njigba echoed those sentiments and said, "I know me and Chris agree, he is one of one. We're excited to see him flourish at the next level."
Harrison will join a list of talented wide receivers in the NFL from Ohio State that includes Olave, Wilson, Smith-Njigba, Terry McLaurin, Michael Thomas, Curtis Samuel, Noah Brown and Parris Campbell. There are likely some future NFL players on the Buckeyes' 2024 roster as well with Emeka Egbuka, Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith leading the way.
All that talent is a testament to Ohio State wide receivers coach Brian Hartline, who continues to pass on what he learned as an NFL player.
"He's a one-of-one coach," Olave said. "He pushes everybody. Everybody gets coached in different ways, and he finds out based on the player and the person. The experience that he has in the NFL, he comes back and teaches that to us on and off the field. He allows us to grow as players and as people."
Smith-Njigba agreed and said, "Just him being in the league means he can give us information on what helped him have a long, successful career in the league. Honestly, I think his biggest talent is just being a good person and coming to work every day and helping young men be who they want to be and their best selves. We wouldn't be sitting here without the man pushing us to be great. And we appreciate him."
Maybe one of them will thank him at next year's Super Bowl if they accomplish their goal.
B/R Recommends