JuJu Smith-Schuster

JuJu Smith-Schuster's Biography

John Sherman “JuJu” Smith-Schuster, American professional football wide receiver, is recognized in the National Football League (NFL) for his notable role with the Kansas City Chiefs. Born on November 22, 1996, Smith-Schuster’s journey into football began relatively early in his life, playing the sport at the age of eight and earning the nickname “JuJu” from an aunt. This moniker would eventually replace “John” in football program listings by 2012. During this time, Smith-Schuster also legally changed his surname from “Smith” to “Smith-Schuster” as a tribute to his step-father.

Smith-Schuster’s early passion for football was reinforced by the renowned rapper Snoop Dogg, who coached Smith-Schuster in the Snoop Youth Football League. Snoop Dogg believed in his potential for greatness, bestowing upon him the nickname “Sportscenter,” in anticipation of his future professional accomplishments.

Smith-Schuster’s talent saw him attending Long Beach Polytechnic High School, renowned for its record in sending football players to careers in the NFL. His exploits on the field would earn Smith-Schuster a five-star recruit rating by Rivals.com. Despite initially committing to Oregon, Smith-Schuster decided to attend the University of Southern California (USC), to play under then-head coach Steve Sarkisian.

Smith-Schuster’s collegiate career was remarkable, earning immediate playing time as a true freshman in 2014 and leading the team with 89 receptions, 1,454 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2015. By his junior year, even though his usage was slightly reduced, Smith-Schuster still managed to stack up an impressive 914 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. His performances culminated in a Rose Bowl victory against the Penn State Nittany Lions. Deciding to test his mettle in the NFL, Smith-Schuster declared for the 2017 NFL draft after his junior year. Significantly, despite his premature exit from college, Smith-Schuster made a point to finish his university degree during the summer.

The Pittsburgh Steelers noticed Smith-Schuster’s potential and selected him in the second round (62nd overall) of the 2017 NFL draft. As the youngest player in the draft, he continues to impress, setting several NFL records, including becoming the youngest player to reach 2,500 career receiving yards, and the first to score two offensive touchdowns of at least 97 yards. Smith-Schuster also holds several franchise records for the Steelers.

Off the field, Smith-Schuster is well-known for his robust social media presence, particularly on TikTok, which saw him earn the nickname TikTok Boy. In recognition of his influence and marketability, Smith-Schuster was ranked one of the NFL’s most marketable players by Sports Business Daily in 2019.

Throughout his career, Smith-Schuster has also faced adversity, such as being suspended for one game in 2017 after making a blindside block on Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict. Despite these setbacks, Smith-Schuster continues to perform well, finishing the season with 58 receptions for 917 yards, and seven touchdowns, earning him a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team.

The following year, Smith-Schuster was voted team MVP by his teammates after registering a team-high 111 receptions for 1,426 yards. His performance clinched him his first career Pro Bowl selection – a distinct achievement in the early stages of his professional career. Despite being the team’s number one wide receiver, Smith-Schuster’s journey hasn’t always been smooth, as observed by a couple of game-ending fumbles that resulted in Steelers’ losses.

Despite the highs and lows of his career, Smith-Schuster’s journey has clearly only just begun, with his blend of youthful exuberance, skill, and resilience promising football fans more spectacular performances on the field.