Jaxon Smith-Njigba mom Jami Smith lives in Sulphur Springs with her new partner Brittan Dodwell. Jaxon was born on 14 Feb 2002 in Dallas.
Jaxon got his athletic traits from his father, Madda, who had a brief playing career as a linebacker in his college days. Following in his dad's footsteps, Jaxon was a standout high school football player in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
His performance earned him acclaim as a high school All-American by Sports Illustrated and USA Today, and he also played in the 2019 All-American Bowl.
As a highly sought-after college football prospect, Smith-Njigba received offers from top programs such as Notre Dame, Nebraska, and Ole Miss but ultimately consigned to Ohio State University.
He continued to outshine in his college career with CJ Stroud and after his junior year, he announced that he would enter the 2023 NFL Draft.
Regarded as the best wide receiver prospect in the draft, Jaxon is expected to be a highly sought-after pick and has the latent to make a significant impact in the NFL.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Parents
Jaxon Smith Njigba parents are Jami Smith and Madda Smith Njigba. Jaxon was raised alongside his brother in Dallas Texas.
Jaxon's dad Madda played collegiate football for Stephen F. Austin. Unfortunately, his Jami and Madda divorced when he was still young.
Despite the separation, Jaxon's parents maintained a good relationship for the sake of their children. Jami and Madda have always supported their sons' passions, encouraged them to work hard and taught them the importance of perseverance.
They have been there for Jaxon every step of the way, cheering him on and providing guidance and support throughout his football journey.
Jaxon's maternal grandmother, Lou Ann Arrona-Huff, has supported her grandsons and their accomplishments. She frequently shares images on her Facebook page of their achievements.
She has even updated her Facebook bio to reflect her pride in Jaxon's hard work and dedication to pursuing his dreams.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Father
Jaxon's dad Maada was a Stephen F. Austin State University linebacker.
From a young age, he trained Jaxon and his older brother Canaan near their home in Rockwall Texas, about 23 miles northeast of Dallas.
Since he worked for the Dallas Fire Department, he lived in a small apartment without a TV and had little money for activities like movies or Chuck E. Cheese. So, Maada relied on sports to keep the boys busy.
Maada's main goal was to tire the boys out so that when they returned home, he only had to feed them, bathe them, and put them to sleep.
However, as they grew older, Maada saw they were talented players and began focusing more on their training. Every day, Maada put Jaxon and Canaan through workouts that he either made up or learned from his playing days.
During the summer, they had two-a-day workouts starting at 6 a.m. to avoid the intense Texas heat. During the school year, Maada would take the boys to Walmart Hill, a steep hill behind the Walmart across from Jaxon's high school.
There, they would do hill repeats to improve their conditioning. Additionally, they would swim, box, lift weights at the gym, and work on explosiveness by jumping in the apartment while wearing a weighted vest.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Mother
After divorcing Maada, Jami found love again and settled in Sulphur Springs, Texas, with her partner Brittan Dodwell.
Jami took to her Facebook page to announce her new relationship on November 27, 2018, with a post from a horse stable.
Since then, she has shared multiple portraits with Dodwell, including pictures of the duo on vacations and celebrating various holidays like Christmas and Halloween.
Moreover, Brittan has supported Jaxon's football career and has shown this on his Facebook page by sharing images of himself at Ohio State Buckeyes' games, where Jaxon plays football.
There are also pictures of Brittan spending time with Jaxon and his brother Canaan, showing that he is a part of their lives.
The family is often seen in the stands, cheering on Jaxon as he plays for the Ohio State Buckeyes on the field, showing that they are a close-knit family that supports each other in all aspects of life.
On the other hand, they were the bridesmaids and groomsmen at the wedding of their friends Dustin and Ashleigh on October 22, 2021, in Emory, Texas.
Jaxon Smith Njigba Siblings
Jaxon Smith Njigba has an older brother named Canaan Smith-Njigba. Jaxon is two years younger than Canaan, who is 23 years old.
Growing up, Jaxon looked up to Canaan as his inspiration and hero. They enjoyed the challenges and competed against each other, which made them better players.
Their father was the all-time quarterback, and they played one-on-one and ran up the hill. These were their best days, and they loved spending time together.
Canaan Smith Ajigba Career As A Baseball Outfielder
Canaan Njigba is an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
He debuted in the MLB in 2022 after honing his skills at Rockwall-Heath High School in Heath, Texas, where he played baseball.
With his impressive performance, Smith-Njigba secured a commitment to play college baseball at the University of Arkansas.
After completing his senior season, Smith-Njigba was selected by the New York Yankees during the 2017 Major League Baseball draft in the fourth round.
Once he sealed a deal with the Yankees, he began his professional baseball career with the Gulf Coast League Yankees at the rookie level. He demonstrated his skills and dedication to the game, earning himself a position in the Yankees team.
On January 24, 2021, the Yankees traded Smith-Njigba, Miguel Yajure, Roansy Contreras, and Maikol Escotto to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Jameson Taillon, an experienced pitcher.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Childhood
Jaxon's paternal grandparents are originally from Sierra Leone. Njigba had a supportive childhood where training and practice were motivated.
The 21-year-old was also creative and used to set up imaginary football games in his living room. He used pillows for the sidelines, couch cushions as defenders, and socks in his waistband as a flag.
He even wore an imaginary headset and challenged plays. He used whatever he could find in the house and maneuvered through obstacles, visualizing the game in his head.
According to Jami, he was imaginative and allowed cushions to tackle or chase him. He would throw the ball to himself and consider it a catch. Despite playing alone, Jaxon enjoyed every bit of it and was the offense, defense, and referee all at once.
Aside from the football skills passed down from his father, Jaxon also carries his family's legacy with him on the field.
His grandfather John immigrated to the United States from Sierra Leone in the 1970s and brought the surname Njigba. However, to assimilate better, he adopted the last name of one of his sponsors and went by John Smith.
The next generation used Njigba on all legal documents but did not use it as a surname. Jaxon followed suit and went by Jaxon Smith until high school. Jaxon was close to his grandfather and after he passed away in 2014, Jaxon wanted to honor his name correctly.
He requested to have Smith-Njigba on the back of his football jersey. Canaan followed suit when he changed his name after being traded from the Yankees to the Pirates in 2021.
Jaxon acknowledges that his family's background and his grandfather's struggles to make a living in the United States motivate him to work hard and appreciate the opportunities he has been given.
