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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Rockwall native Jaxon Smith-Njigba was chosen by the |
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Seattle Seahawks with the 20th pick in the first round of the |
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National Football League Draft on April 27, 2023; and |
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WHEREAS, The top wide receiver taken off the board, |
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Mr. Smith-Njigba first gained widespread acclaim at Rockwall High |
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School, where he helped the Yellowjackets advance to the 2019 UIL 6A |
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Division 1 state semifinals; that season, he caught 104 passes for |
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2,094 yards and 35 touchdowns and collected countless awards, |
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including selection as the Gatorade Texas Player of the Year and as |
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an All-American by Sports Illustrated and USA Today; he finished |
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his high school career with 5,346 receiving yards and 82 touchdowns |
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in 44 games, earning a place in the record books among the top |
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wideouts in Texas football history; and |
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WHEREAS, Several top programs offered Mr. Smith-Njigba a |
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scholarship, but he decided to enroll at Ohio State University; |
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after playing in seven games as a freshman, he was selected to start |
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at slot receiver heading into his sophomore year; on November 6, |
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2021, against the University of Nebraska, he set a school record |
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with 15 receptions for 240 yards, which was the second highest |
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receiving total in OSU history at the time; later that season, he |
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led the Buckeyes to victory with a spectacular performance in the |
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Rose Bowl, setting an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision |
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record for yards in a bowl game with 347; moreover, his 1,606 |
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receiving yards that year broke the Big 10 Conference record, and he |
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received All-American third team honors from the Associated Press; |
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although a hamstring injury limited his junior season to just three |
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games, he declared for the NFL draft and was one of the premier |
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pass-catchers available in the 2023 field; and |
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WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, this proud Texan benefits from |
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a fine family that includes his parents, Jami Smith and Maada |
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Smith-Njigba, and his brother, Canaan Smith-Njigba, a fellow |
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professional athlete and current outfielder for the Pittsburgh |
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Pirates; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his hard work and perseverance, Jaxon |
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Smith-Njigba has distinguished himself as one of the top |
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professional football prospects in the nation, and his many fans |
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throughout Texas are looking forward to following his career in the |
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NFL; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Jaxon Smith-Njigba on his |
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selection in the 2023 NFL Draft and extend to him sincere best |
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wishes for continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Smith-Njigba as an expression of high regard by |
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the Texas House of Representatives. |