David Ojabo NFL Draft Overview
Position: EDGE
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 250 lbs
School: Michigan
NFL Combine Data:
40 Yard Dash: 4.55s
Vertical jump: 35”
Broad jump: 122”
20 Yard Shuttle: 4.45
David Ojabo 2022 NFL Draft Profile
David Ojabo was a one-year starter for the Michigan Wolverines at EDGE. His football career started late but he has since turned into one of the most intriguing products in the 2022 NFL Draft. Ojabo had never played football until his junior year of high school and was said to be inspired by teammate Odafe Oweh’s late turn to football at Blair Academy. Despite playing just two years of high school football, Ojabo was still able to enter Division 1 football as a four-star recruit due to his supreme athleticism. He did not see any game action as a freshman and made just one tackle in three games as a sophomore.
Ojabo then broke out as a junior in Ann Arbour. He made his first-ever start in Michigan’s opening game against Western Michigan and would go on to make five more starts and play in each of the Wolverines 14 games on the season. His first sack came in Michigan’s following game against Washington. Ojabo might not have had much playing experience prior to 2021 but he was able to show off a few pass-rushing moves to combined with his supreme athleticism. Most of Ojabo’s sacks came by utilizing his great speed and simply rushing past the opposing offensive tackles or playing off of that fear, and throwing an inside spin move. Ojabo finished the season with 11 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and five forced fumbles. The standout season was enough to earn him first-team All-SEC and second-team All-American honors.
The biggest selling point of Ojabo is his upside. He is an incredibly raw prospect but has shown large leaps in play from year to year and could have maybe the highest ceiling amongst the EDGEs in the 2022 class. However, there are going to be concerns about the Achilles he tore at Michigan’s pro day. Ojabo was already going to require a lot of good coaching at the NFL level due to being so unrefined and now, he will likely lose valuable reps early in his NFL career.
Strengths
- Incredible burst off the edge that allows him to simply run past less athletic tackles
- Track background from high school gives him a second gear of speed
- Can audible to an inside spin move if he wants to throw a change-up instead of a fastball with his speed rush
- Nose for finding the ball when rushing the passer (five forced fumbles in 2021)
- Enough speed to get outside and enough power to get inside against the run
- Range and versatility allow him the ability to turn into a three-down linebacker
Weaknesses
- Just a one-year starter with only 20 games of college football under his belt
- Torn Achilles at Michigan’s pro day opens up the possibility of developmental concerns
- Adequate athlete but underdeveloped dropping into coverage
- Play recognition, specifically against the run, needs work
- Not typically stunned by offensive tackles first punch but can struggle with countering
- Rarely showcases much bend or dip during his pass rushes
NFL Comparison: Robert Quinn
Teams with need at the position: Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks
Projection: Second Round
Bottom Line on David Ojabo
Ojabo is an incredibly raw prospect who showcased supreme athleticism as a stand-up pass rusher during his time at Michigan. He brings a speed rush, a rip move, and a spin counter in his pass rush arsenal but still has room to add more moves and refine his technique. Considering he had never played a down of football prior to his junior year of high school, the pace at which he has developed is very impressive. However, there will be questions about if he can continue that trajectory after tearing his Achilles at Michigan’s Pro Day. Ojabo was projected to be an impact pass rush specialist early in his NFL career with the ceiling of a three-down linebacker prior to his injury. Now, NFL teams must hope he can fully recover and not lose any of the burst that made him so successful during his junior year at Michigan.
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