If you ask Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba who “Receiver U” is, he won’t hesitate—he’s repping the Buckeyes all day. But when former Buffs star Laviska Shenault brought up Colorado in a recent episode of his podcast Athlete’s Aura, the debate got real.
Smith-Njigba, who’s now with the Seattle Seahawks, started off confidently, declaring, “The Ohio State is Receiver U.” And, to be fair, he had his reasons. He rattled off a list of Buckeye talent past, present, and future, hyping up guys like Terry McLaurin and incoming freshman Jeremiah Smith. The man believes in his alma mater.
But Shenault wasn’t having it.
"Hold up, Colorado," Shenault interrupted, throwing our Buffs into the mix. His argument? Hardware. “Hey, name a receiver on your team that won the Heisman. That won every award that they can possibly win.”
Of course, he’s talking about the insane talent CU has had at the position recently—guys like himself, Paul Richardson, and now, the new wave led by Travis Hunter, Jimmy Horn Jr., and LaJohntay Wester.
Smith-Njigba laughed it off, giving props where they were due. “Y’all boys got the jersey, y’all got the swag. I was messing—I took a visit up there, I was going to be a Buff for real.”
Wait, what? Yep, apparently, Smith-Njigba once considered suiting up in black and gold. Imagine that.
Look, Ohio State and LSU have been pumping out NFL stars like clockwork, so their claims to the throne aren’t exactly weak. But Colorado has its own legacy, and with Deion Sanders at the helm, the Buffs are back in the national conversation. If the Buffs keep producing game-changers, Shenault’s claim might not sound so crazy in a few years.
What do you think Buffs Nation? Is Colorado back in the "Receiver U" debate, or does OSU still run the show?