JuJu Smith-Schuster Trusts the Process on Path to NFL Draft

At USC Pro Day on Wednesday, Trojan wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster explained how he’s trusting the process as he prepares for the 2017 NFL Draft.

JuJu Smith-Schuster can already tell you the story of his NFL career. Drafted by the Buffalo Bills, he loved the uniforms but not the weather.

“We got to November and it was snowing. And I was like ‘Ah, that’s not it, I’ve got to get traded.'”

So a trade was engineered, back west to the Oakland Raiders with a three — or four — year contract worth $26 million.

“It was cool. It was me, [Michael] Crabtree and Amari [Cooper]. We were dominant throughout the franchise,” Smith-Schuster said. “I’m almost to the Super Bowl. I’m about to meet up with Tom Brady.”

That’s his story — at least the one currently being played out in the Madden NFL 17 video game. That’s digital JuJu Smith-Schuster’s story.

Back in the real world on the turf of Cromwell Field at USC’s Pro Day on Wednesday, Smith-Schuster’s journey to the NFL has only just begun. He hasn’t been drafted. He hasn’t played in Buffalo in November. He’s not on the way to the Super Bowl.

But he’s eager to get started down that path, wherever it leads him.

“I don’t know where I see myself,” Smith-Schuster says after Madden storytelling shifts suddenly to introspection. “Wherever I go, I’m going to embrace it, have fun with it and just live my career –however long that goes– and have the opportunity to live my dreams.”

The first step was declaring for the NFL Draft in January. He was of two minds back then, torn between staying and going.

Now removed from the decision, he’s happy with his choice. He and Adoree’ Jackson helped USC emerge from the other side of sanctions. They made their mark and they got the Trojans to the Rose Bowl.

But with the ever-present danger of injury, the balance of risk-reward leaned towards the NFL. So they went.

The next step was a trip to Indianapolis for the 2017 NFL Combine, a trip which left Smith-Schuster both satisfied and unsatisfied.

The receiver did 15 reps on the bench press and that sat right with him. His 40-yard-dash of 4.52 was better than expected. Mission accomplished.

“Next time I run the 40 is when someone pays me a million dollars.”

“I focused on the 40. I said, I’m going to run it today. I’m going to dominate and I’m going to be done with it,” Smith-Schuster said.

And done with it he certainly is.

“Next time I run the 40 is when someone pays me a million dollars.”

But a vertical jump of 32.5 inches? “I really wasn’t happy with that.”

A broad jump of nine feet and three inches? “I wasn’t happy with that.”

Those became the next challenges to focus on. The next hurdles. He aced both tests on Wednesday at Pro Day, improving his vertical to by an inch and his broad jump by a foot.

But he did more than that.

“I did the 60-yard shuttle, just to compete. Just to show I’m not afraid,” Smith-Schuster said. “If you want me to test, if you want me to go touch that line or stare at an object for 35 seconds without blinking, I’ll do it. Anything to get the job done.”

That mentality is something Smith-Schuster wants to sell teams on, as well as the physical ability which he put on display at Pro Day.

“I’m able to dissect defenses, study really hard and I played in different roles,” said Smith-Schuster. “I played through a lot of injuries. Obviously I broke a couple bones and didn’t quit, being able to put my body on the line. I’m just willing to work.”

Smith-Schuster played half a season with a broken hand as a sophomore. He toughed his way though back spasms as a junior. His willingness to work is not in question.

Even so, he’s undeniably playful.

Mar 4, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; USC Trojans wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster catches a pass during the 2017 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

He laughs with reporters about the weirdest question he was asked during Combine interviews — “Who is the 35th president?” — vindicated when no one knows the answer offhand. (An LA Times reporter eventually supplies it: John F. Kennedy)

He recommends the Asian shrimp salad from the California Fish Grill — with extra sauce because it’s fire.

He wears a backwards hat while running through drills.

“I’m still 20 years old. I’m still living life,” Smith-Schuster said.

The hat is just one marker of the more relaxed feel of USC’s Pro Day, as opposed to the pressure of Indianapolis. But it’s also more than that.

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The words “In God We Trust” are stitched across the front. That’s not meant to be a reference to the motto on U.S. coinage. It’s more of a personal motto for the wide out.

“You’ve got to trust the process. You’ve got to trust God no matter what,” Smith-Schuster explained.

The process only gets more strenuous from here.

On April 1st, Smith-Schuster will begin a whirlwind trip, flying out to meet five different teams. He’ll be with and working out for even more in Los Angeles over the coming weeks.

“It’s going to be a busy schedule,” Smith-Schuster said.

Hopefully not too busy though. He’s still got that Super Bowl to win with the Raiders on Madden.

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