The Houston Texans are rooting on two fronts in Week 17 when it comes to their 2023 NFL draft positioning. The Texans are still tracking to land the No. 1...
This time of year, NFL fans are either rooting for better draft positioning or a playoff spot. Seattle Seahawks fans will get to do a bit of both in Week 17....
Eyabi Okie NFL Draft 2023: Scouting Report for Michigan Edge
Dec 30, 2022
ANN ARBOR, MI - SEPTEMBER 03: Michigan Wolverines defensive end Eyabi Anoma (18) wraps his arms around Colorado State Rams quarterback Clay Millen (11) during the second quarter of a non-conference college football game between the Colorado State Rams and the Michigan Wolverines on September 3, 2022 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
HEIGHT: 6'5"
WEIGHT: 244
HAND: TBD
ARM: TBD
WINGSPAN: TBD
40-YARD DASH: TBD
3-CONE: TBD
SHUTTLE: TBD
VERTICAL: TBD
BROAD: TBD
POSITIVES
– Impressive get-off with his quick reaction to the snap and good acceleration off the line of scrimmage; he can put pressure on offensive tackles vertically as a pass-rusher.
– Uses head/shoulder fakes during the stem phase of a rush to help set up his moves.
– He has the change of direction and quickness to develop an inside stick move if his use of his hands improves.
– Keeps his legs pumping through contact when bull-rushing or turning speed to power to collapse the pocket against weaker tackles.
– Has shown impressive strength as a tackler by bringing running backs and quarterbacks down with one arm.
NEGATIVES
– Lean frame, needs to add more size and functional strength when taking on blocks to hold his ground better versus one-on-one blocks from offensive linemen.
– Poor use of his hands as a run defender and pass-rusher; he'll get caught with his hands by his waist and exposes his chest, making getting off blocks and defeating the hands in pass rush extremely difficult.
– Needs a better pass-rushing plan throughout the game. For example, he'll try a ghost rush without setting it up by winning with a few one-arm stab moves, making the ghost rush less effective.
– Struggles to stay on balance and fight through chip blocks.
– Primarily a situational pass-rusher at Michigan and UT Martin.
– On his fourth team in five years, dismissed from Alabama and Houston.
– Dismissed from Alabama reportedly for tardiness, skipping class, clashing with teammates and insubordination and was dismissed from Houston for "some of the same issues," according to Matt Zenitz of On3 Sports; left UT Martin on good terms
– 10 career starts
– 2021 Honors: OVC All-Newcomer Team, All-OVC Third Team (Phil Steele)
– 2018 Honors: SEC All-Freshman Team
– Had 46 sacks in last two years of high school
– Averaged 11.6 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in basketball during the 2015-16 season
OVERALL
Before even talking about football or what he can do on the field, Eyabi Okie (formerly Anoma) will have to answer questions about what happened at Alabama and Houston. He's said his issues at those two stops had to do with maturity, and to his credit, he's stayed out of trouble since leaving the Cougars.
On the field, Okie has shown off a few of the traits that made him a top-five recruit, as he's clearly a good athlete, most notably with his impressive get-off/acceleration. He could be an effective pass-rusher in the NFL, but his lack of success as a run defender is concerning.
Both Michigan and UT Martin used him primarily as a situational pass-rusher, which is surprising for a player who was once considered one of the top recruits in the country. He's just not strong enough to hold up at the point of attack against the run, and that coupled with his poor use of his hands makes getting off blocks a challenge.
Also, while the Baltimore native did rack up six sacks for the Skyhawks, he didn't dominate at the FCS level as one might expect. And it's concerning that he didn't take over the starting role at Michigan when Mike Morris went down at the end of the regular season.
All of that being said, he has enough traits and a good enough resume to still be draftable for an odd-front team that is looking for a standup outside linebacker and/or a third-down pass-rusher toward the end of Day 3.
Olusegun Oluwatimi NFL Draft 2023: Scouting Report for Michigan IOL
Dec 30, 2022
BLOOMINGTON, IN - OCTOBER 08: Michigan Wolverines offensive lineman Olusegun Oluwatimi (55) looks over the defense before snapping the ball during a college football game against the Indiana Hoosiers on October 8, 2022 at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
HEIGHT: 6'2.5"
WEIGHT: 309
HAND: 8 5/8"
ARM: 32 3/4"
WINGSPAN: TBD
40-YARD DASH: 5.38
3-CONE: TBD
SHUTTLE: TBD
VERTICAL: 29"
BROAD: 9'2"
POSITIVES
— Alert player with good spatial awareness and processing skills to diagnose line games and stunts and identify the most dangerous man.
— Quarterbacks the best offensive line unit in the nation, with a firm grasp on the checks, calls and adjustments in the pre-snap phase of the game.
— Shows a good understanding of the play's intent by knowing when and how to manipulate body positioning and leverage to create seals and alleys in the run game.
— Works best in tandem with his guards having help on slide protections, combo and double-team blocks using the proper timing and spacing to get defenders covered up.
— Solid steer and sustain skills in the run game; plays with a good hip-to-elbow relationship to keep his hands tight and inside while continually driving his feet and applying force on defenders through the whistle.
— Capable blocker on the move up to the second level and on pulls to line up and dig out his target.
NEGATIVES
— Smaller stature with below-average play strength and power.
— Struggles to consistently root his feet, absorb force and anchor when isolated against the bull rush.
— Will get stood up and flattened at the point of attack when asked to uproot or reach defensive tackles without help.
— Inconsistent set points on shaded interior rushers with tardy strike timing that leaves him vulnerable to losing quickly across his face.
— Lack of position flex limits versatility in the NFL.
NOTES
— Former 2-star guard recruit out of DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland, per 247Sports composite rating
— Originally committed to the Air Force Academy before transferring to the University of Virginia and starting 32 consecutive games there, all at center, before transferring again to Michigan prior to the 2022 season
— Named a consensus All-American in 2022
— Won the 2022 Rimington (best center) and Outland Trophies (best interior lineman), becoming the third Michigan player to win the former and first to win the latter
— Part of the Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line in 2022, given to the nation's top OL unit
— His brother Oluwaseun is a defensive lineman at the University of Maryland
OVERALL
Olusegun Oluwatimi is a four-year starter with 45 career starts, all at center for two different programs, most recently for Michigan's run-heavy, downhill ground game that emphasizes gap and man-blocking concepts with some zone sprinkled in. Oluwatimi has adequate arm length with a lean, narrow frame and more thickness in his lower than upper half.
Oluwatimi orchestrates the pre-snap phase of the game, making all of the line calls for the Wolverines and did so throughout his career at Virginia. He shows above-average processing skills and spatial awareness to sort line games and stunts and identify the most dangerous man when necessary (late loopers, delayed blitzes, etc.).
He maintains proper depth and spacing with his guards on slide protections and utilizes the drag or backside hand to "feel" and overtake adjacent pressure when needed. He also has a nice snatch technique to defeat power when facing the bull rush.
Due to his middling stature, length and power, though, Oluwatimi struggles to root his feet and brace and absorb force when isolated against bigger interior rushers that get into his frame. This causes him to get walked back, pried open or shed too easily. His strike timing against shifty interior rushers can also be late, leaving him vulnerable to losing across his face without enough foot quickness to reliably recover.
In the run game, Oluwatimi shows a firm grasp of the play's intent by knowing when and how to manipulate body positioning and leverage to create seals and alleys based on the runner's path. He does a nice job working combination and double-team blocks using proper spacing, timing and aiming points to get into good initial position on blocks. He also aligns his hips and elbows prior to contact, leading to tight hand placement while consistently running his feet through the whistle, allowing him to apply consistent force on defenders with enough leverage and control so lanes can open up around him.
However, Oluwatimi struggles to uproot and sustain on base, drive and down blocks against defensive tackles without help, frequently getting stood up, knocked back and shed.
Overall, Oluwatimi is a highly decorated, experienced and smart player with good processing skills, spatial awareness and an understanding of leverage. He will need to overcome below-average physical traits and a lack of proven versatility to become a starter but has the makeup and smarts to develop into a role player over his first contract.
Jaquelin Roy NFL Draft 2023: Scouting Report for LSU DL
Dec 30, 2022
GAINESVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 15: LSU Tigers defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy (99) during the game between the LSU Tigers and the Florida Gators on October 15, 2022 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field in Gainesville, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
HEIGHT: 6'3"
WEIGHT: 305
HAND: 10 1/8"
ARM: 32 3/4"
WINGSPAN: TBD
40-YARD DASH: 5.17
3-CONE: 8.01
SHUTTLE: 5.0
VERTICAL: 26"
BROAD: 8'5"
POSITIVES
— Get-off gets better/faster as the game goes along.
— Gets his hands up quickly against the run and has plenty of strength at the point of attack to get extension and lock out offensive linemen.
— Takes on blocks with a wide base when he isn't slanting. Is hard to move one-on-one.
— Has a solid arm-over move that he uses to escape blocks as a run defender and as a pass-rush move.
— Decent push-pull move with solid hip fluidity to clear his lower half.
— Showed flashing of being able to win with a club-by move as a rusher.
— Carries his frame well with little to no bad weight. A lean 305 pounds.
NEGATIVES
— Stands up out of his stance and stops his feet on contact, causing issues versus double-teams and limiting the effectiveness of his bull rush.
— Narrows his base significantly and struggles to stay on balance when he slants, making it easier for offensive linemen to wash him out of the play.
— Not violent when block-shedding, allowing offensive linemen to hang onto him, which makes it more difficult for him to make tackles.
— Drops and doesn't use his hands well as a pass-rusher. Will allow blockers to get into his chest.
— Subpar agility limits his effectiveness in line games, especially as the looper.
— Limited pass-rush arsenal overall. Most moves are developmental/need to be flushed out.
— 13 career starts; played behind Neil Farrell Jr. (fourth-round Raiders pick) and Andre Anthony (seventh-round Buccaneers pick) for two years
— Won back-to-back state championships in high school (2017 and 2018)
OVERALL
Jaquelin Roy showed a ton of potential as a sophomore that many had hoped would shine even more this season as he took over the starting role. However, he didn't appear to have the same quickness and twitch that he showed in the past, which impacted his productivity and effectiveness as a pass-rusher.
Part of that had to do with the coaching and scheme changes at LSU following the arrival of head coach Brian Kelly. Roy went from primarily playing as a 3-technique in even fronts to playing as more of a nose tackle. His best fit would probably be closer to his previous role, which should hopefully help unlock some of the potential he showed as a sophomore.
As a run defender, there's a lot to like about the Baton Rouge native. He's strong at the point of attack and has some pop in his hands to gain control of the block. He can be a good space-eater, too, as he's hard to move one-on-one. If he can get better at shedding blocks, he'll start making more plays.
Roy's pass-rush skills need quite a bit of work, though. Right now, his best move is a push-pull, and he even has room for growth there as well. He'll be a more effective bull-rusher if he gets his pads down, and improving his use of hands will help develop a finesse move or two. He showed a nice inside/outside stick move as a sophomore.
If a team is looking for an immediate run defender with upside as a pass-rusher in the middle of the draft, Roy should be on its radar.
Mazi Smith NFL Draft 2023: Scouting Report for Michigan DL
Dec 30, 2022
Michigan defensive lineman Mazi Smith (58) rushes against Connecticut offensive lineman Noel Ofori-Nyadu (62) in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
HEIGHT: 6'3"
WEIGHT: 323
HAND: 9 3/4"
ARM: 33 3/4"
WINGSPAN: TBD
40-YARD DASH: TBD
3-CONE: TBD
SHUTTLE: TBD
VERTICAL: 29.5"
BROAD: 8'11"
POSITIVES
— Unique blend of size, strength and athletic ability. He carries his frame well, too, with little to no bad weight.
— Tons of power in his hands to stand up to offensive linemen at the point of attack. He can gain control of the block fairly easily, and his upper body strength will occasionally allow him to recover if he gets beat initially against the run.
— Takes on blocks with a wide base.
— When he anticipates the second blocker coming, he can absorb contact and split double-teams.
— Sheds blocks pretty easily and has shown the ability to escape with a swim move/arm over, too.
— Has the potential to be an effective power rusher at the next level if his get-off can improve to be more consistent with his bull rush.
— Also showed flashes of winning with hump and club-by moves and can develop a push-pull move if he gets more limber with his lower half to clear his hips and get a clean win.
— When slanting as a pass-rusher, he has a little more time to get his hands up and has a decent hand-swipe move that he can win with.
NEGATIVES
— Late reaction to the snap and doesn't have much initial quickness off the ball. This could become a big issue against scoop blocks and reaches at the next level.
— Likes to stand up out of his stance. Quick interior offensive linemen who play with good leverage will be his nemesis against the run at the next level.
— He's slow to get his hands up as a run defender, which will expose his chest and can lead to his shoulders getting turned versus combo and scoop blocks.
— The effectiveness of his bull rush is inconsistent because of his poor get-off and wide hand placement.
— Needs to add a violent rip to the end of pass-rush moves to get offensive linemen off of him when he does win. He lets them hang on too long and will get ridden past the quarterback.
— Doesn't pass rush with much of a plan or a motor. He'll quit if his first move doesn't work.
2022 STATISTICS
— 14 GM, 48 TOT, 2.5 TFL, 0.5 SK, 1 FF
NOTES
— DOB: June 16, 2001
— No. 1 on Bruce Feldman's list of top athletes entering the season, 22 bench reps at 325 lbs, 550 lbs close-grip bench, 33" vert, 6.95-second 3-cone
— Charged with felony weapons possession, per Detroit Free Press, pled guilty to misdemeanor weapons possession, per ESPN, from a traffic stop on Oct. 7
— 27 career starts
— 2022 Honors: First-team All-Big Ten
— 2021 Honors: Honorable Mention All-Big Ten (coaches and media), Academic All-Big Ten
— 2020 Honors: Academic All-Big Ten
OVERALL
The Athletic's Bruce Feldman ranked the 6'3", 337-pound Smith first on his list of players with "unique physical abilities that wow even those who observe gifted athletes every day". Mazi Smith caught everyone's attention heading into this season with his rare blend of size, strength and athleticism. He's shown flashes of some All-Pro caliber traits, but consistency has been a major issue and a large reason why he's been fairly unproductive in college.
Heading into the playoffs, Smith only had half a sack and five tackles for loss in two seasons as a starter, and he would disappear on tape far too often for someone with his physical gifts. Conditioning might play a factor in that, too, as his pass-rush motor is sub-par.
A lot of Smith's lack of production is rooted in his get-off—or lack thereof—and being faster off of the ball will solve a lot of his problems as a run defender and pass-rusher. Michigan did have him two-gap a lot, which can hinder a defensive lineman's initial quickness, but he was still slow off the ball, even when one-gapping or penetrating.
The Wolverine is more traits and tools than a finished project, but it's going to be hard to find more defensive tackles with more potential than he has, meaning his best football could be ahead of him.
Schematically, Smith would be best as a 0- to 2i-technique in either odd or even fronts, and he could potentially play as a 3-technique if he adds some quickness down the line. It's just a matter of how patient teams are willing to be with him as a team hoping for a defensive tackle to make an immediate impact might be looking elsewhere.
Jack Campbell NFL Draft 2023: Scouting Report for Iowa LB
Dec 30, 2022
Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell (31) looks to make a tackle during the second half of an NCAA college football game against South Dakota State, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
HEIGHT: 6'5"
WEIGHT: 249
HAND: 10 1/4"
ARM: 31 7/8"
WINGSPAN: TBD
40-YARD DASH: 4.65
3-CONE: 4.24
SHUTTLE: 6.74
VERTICAL: 37.5"
BROAD: 10'8"
POSITIVES
— Quick to key and diagnose zone versus gap runs to put himself in a good position to make plays.
— Comes downhill in a hurry to fill his gap on the front side of gap runs. Takes good angles in pursuit against stretch runs or outside zone.
— Physical and strong at the point of attack to get extension against offensive linemen. Has plenty of upper-body strength to stack and shed.
— Wraps up and uses good pad level when tackling.
— Gets his hands on and can force reroutes against receivers and tight ends when playing underneath in zone coverage.
— Has good eye discipline. Locates threats coming into his area and can read the quarterback's eyes to step into throwing windows.
— Impressive ball skills for a linebacker. Uses his height and long arms well to force quarterbacks to try to make perfect throws to beat his coverage between the second and third levels over the middle. Has shown the hand-eye coordination to make one-handed interceptions.
— Hustle player who will make tackles down the field in pursuit.
— Great size for an NFL linebacker.
NEGATIVES
— Falls for a lot of pre-snap eye candy and can get caught out of position against motion.
— Has a habit of taking on blocks square and stopping his feet on contact, which can cause him to lose ground if he doesn't win at the point of attack. Reliant on his upper-body strength.
— Only adequate hip fluidity. Doesn't have enough speed when spot-dropping/running backward to play a lot of Tampa 2 coverage.
— Subpar change of direction is an issue in man coverage against running backs and shifter tight ends and on scramble drills.
— Doesn't have any moves as a pass-rusher. Just runs full speed and tries to run through blockers as a blitzer.
— 2022 Honors: First-team All-Big Ten (coaches and media), Consensus All-American, Butkus Award winner (nation's best LB)
— 2021 Honors: Team MVP on defense, Academic All-Big Ten, second-team All-American (FWAA and Phil Steele), first-team All-Big Ten (league media and Phil Steele), third-team All-Big Ten (coaches)
— 2020 Honors: Academic All-Big Ten
OVERALL
The combine will be key for Jack Campbell, as questions remain about his athleticism when it comes to his transition to the NFL. He was athletic enough to be the most decorated linebacker in college football this season, but his change of direction and hip fluidity are questionable for a modern-day NFL linebacker.
With that being said, Campbell isn't devoid of traits that will translate to the NFL. He has impressive speed when coming downhill, which helps him plug gaps against the run and close on pass-catchers in zone coverage. He's also arguably the best linebacker at stack-and-shedding in this draft class, and he has good instincts in zone coverage.
Schematically, the Hawkeye would be best as a middle linebacker in a system that uses a lot of one-high looks and Cover 3. That would give him some help over the top and keep him from having to carry wide receivers in Tampa 2, while still taking advantage of his ability to tighten throwing windows as an underneath defender in zone coverage.
Campbell is not a one-size-fits-all type of player. He could slide in the draft if teams are looking for a linebacker with more man-coverage skills. However, he could be a great Day 2 pick for a team seeking an impact run defender on the second level of its defense.
Trenton Simpson NFL Draft 2023: Scouting Report for Clemson LB
Dec 30, 2022
TALLAHASSEE, FL - OCTOBER 15: Clemson Tigers linebacker Trenton Simpson (22) in pass defense during the Clemson Tigers game against the Florida State Seminoles on October 15, 2022, at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, FL. (Photo by Chris Leduc/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
HEIGHT: 6'2"
WEIGHT: 235
HAND: 10 1/4"
ARM: 32 3/8"
WINGSPAN: TBD
40-YARD DASH: 4.43
3-CONE: 7.06
SHUTTLE: 4.24
VERTICAL: 40.5"
BROAD: 9'10"
POSITIVES
– Impressive athlete with good change of direction and fluid hips. Can mirror and match against running backs and tight ends in man coverage.
– Uses his hands well to help stay in phase when playing man coverage or get reroutes when playing underneath in zone coverage.
– Has the acceleration to click and close quickly.
– Good ball skills for a linebacker. Plays the hands from a trail position and has decent hand-eye coordination to get pass breakups when facing the quarterback.
– Can use his quickness to make offensive linemen miss at the second level.
– Physical at the point of attack when taking on run blocks and strong enough to get off blocks from tight ends and wide receivers.
– Speed helps him make plays in pursuit. Has the athletic ability to break down and make tackles in space.
– Has the agility and acceleration to be an effective looper in line games as a pass-rusher.
NEGATIVES
– Needs to work for more depth when spot-dropping in zone coverage to tighten the windows between the second and third levels of the defense, especially in Cover 3.
– Struggles to read the quarterback's eyes and anticipate throws in zone coverage.
– Not strong enough against the run to consistently get extension against offensive linemen. Will get pushed around a bit if he can't win at the point of attack.
– Not a violent block-shedder when working to get off blocks. Linemen with good grip strength can latch onto him.
– Has a habit of taking too shallow of an angle versus outside runs.
– High pad level. Likes to lunge and leave his feet when tackling, which will lead to misses.
– No pass-rush moves as a blitzer.
2022 STATISTICS
— 12 GM, 72 TOT, 4 TFL, 2.5 SK, 2 FF, 3 PBU
NOTES
– DOB: June 14, 2001
– Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
– No. 29 on Bruce Feldman's list of top athletes entering this season: 6 percent body fat, benches 375 lbs, power-cleans 355 lbs, 35" vertical jump, 10'2" broad jump, high 4.3s in 40-yard dash (per Clemson's coaches)
– 2021 Honors: Second-team All-ACC (PFF), All-ACC Academic team
OVERALL
Trenton Simpson put on about 10 pounds this offseason, per his school bio, but the extra weight didn't appear to affect his athleticism much (if at all). That's part of the reason why he ended up on Bruce Feldman's "Freaks" list and is one of the top linebackers in this year's draft class.
Simpson has always played with his hair on fire and has been physical at the point of attack against the run. Wide receivers and tight ends working to the second level had trouble blocking him, and the added strength helped him hold his ground and get some extension versus offensive linemen.
However, Simpson still has room for growth in those areas, as bigger and more physical linemen will still be able to push him around a bit in the NFL. He also struggles to get off blocks against the big guys.
Simpson's athleticism shines through when he plays man coverage. He's fluid and sinks his hips well to cover running backs and tight ends on shorter routes, and he has the speed to carry if they go deep.
That speed also comes in handy when he converges on the ball in zone coverage. However, he does struggle to find his landmark while spot-dropping, and he isn't great at reading the quarterback's eyes to anticipate throws, which will leave throwing windows open.
Schematically, Simpson would be best as a "Will" linebacker for a team that uses a lot of even fronts and man coverage. Down the line, he can probably mix in at "Sam," too, but he'll need to become more consistent with his angles on the front side of outside runs before he can make a full-time switch to that position. He also isn't a terrible fit in a zone scheme, but that will take some time and development, and he looks more comfortable in man.
Simpson is what a lot of teams are looking for in a modern-day linebacker. He could easily be a late Day 1 pick and the first linebacker off the board.
SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 10: Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman Isaiah Foskey (7) tackles Marshall Thundering Herd running back Khalan Laborn (8) in action during a game between the Marshall Thundering Herd and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on September 10, 2022 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, IN. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
HEIGHT: 6'5"
WEIGHT: 264
HAND: 9 7/8"
ARM: 34"
WINGSPAN: 81 5/8"
40-YARD DASH: 4.58
3-CONE: 7.28
SHUTTLE: 4.41
VERTICAL: 34"
BROAD: 10'5"
POSITIVES
— Physical at the point of attack and takes on blocks with good leverage out of a two-point stance to help set the edge.
— Solid strength to win as a power rusher with a one-arm stab move or a bull rush, and he's shown a nice rip move as a counter off of the bull rush that he can win with if he starts working to get on an edge.
— Does a good job of working offensive lineman's hands as a pass-rusher.
— Has plenty of athletic ability to develop finesse moves down the line and has shown flashes of winning with a cross chop, hand swipe and ghost rush.
— Impressive agility to avoid losing ground as the looper in line games.
— Swipes at the ball and has a knack for getting strip sacks.
— Very instinctual against the run and can be hard to reach with his combination of agility and block recognition out of a two-point stance.
— Strong enough to get extension and hold ground against tackles.
— Hustle player who will factor into gang tackles down the field and get coverage sacks.
NEGATIVES
— Slow run-pass transitions against play-action.
— Doesn't have a go-to pass rush move that can win with at the moment and doesn't have the speed off the ball to challenge offensive tackles vertically.
— Could make better use of the stem phase of a pass rush by getting upfield initially to give himself a two-way go and keep the tackle guessing.
— Adequate bend to turn tight corners and take an efficient path to the quarterback but lacks ankle flexibility.
— Needs to start working to get on an edge when bull-rushing.
— More passive against the run when working out of a three-point stance. Likes to stand up and see what the offensive line is doing instead of attacking and reacting.
— Lacks violence when trying to disengage and get off blocks and lets offensive linemen hang onto him.
— Not a forceful tackler and will lose ground after contact from physical running backs.
Isaiah Foskey is an interesting projection because he has plenty of traits with his size, strength and athleticism, and he's been productive, surpassing several notable Notre Dame defensive linemen like Justin Tuck and Bryant Young in the school's record books. Typically, that'd make for a slam-dunk top-10 pick.
However, a lot of Foskey's sacks have come when he's either unblocked, is cleaning up from another pass-rusher winning or as coverage sacks, especially this past year. His impressive rushes have come in flashes versus being something he can consistently win with at the next level, and his stiff ankles are concerning for an edge-rusher.
That being said, if the Golden Domer tests well at the combine to confirm his athletic potential, he's a good enough power rusher and can develop a wider pass-rush arsenal down the road to still be a first-round pick. He might just have to wait a little longer to hear his name called on Day 1.
Against the run, there's a lot to like about Foskey's game. He's physical and strong to set the edge and hold ground against offensive tackles, and his instincts are impressive out of a two-point stance. The biggest issue is that he can look like almost a completely different player with his hand in the ground, which could limit his scheme fit.
Foskey is much better from a standup linebacker position. When he is in a three-point stance, it's almost like his natural inclination is to play from a two-point because he stands up and tries to see what's going on, essentially getting to a two-point stance post-snap. So, he'd be best as an outside backer for a team that uses odd fronts.
Notre Dame would occasionally drop him in coverage, so he has experience covering running backs, tight ends and the underneath zones to go along with the athleticism to carry that part of his game over to the NFL. He might not be "off the board" for even front teams, but he'll need the freedom to play from that standup position.
BJ Ojulari NFL Draft 2023: Scouting Report for LSU EDGE
Dec 30, 2022
BATON ROUGE, LA - SEPTEMBER 17: LSU Tigers defensive end BJ Ojulari (18) celebrates after a sack during a game between the LSU Tigers and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on September 17, 2022. (Photo by John Korduner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
HEIGHT: 6'2"
WEIGHT: 248
HAND: 10 1/2"
ARM: 34 1/4"
WINGSPAN: TBD
40-YARD DASH: TBD
3-CONE: 7.57
SHUTTLE: TBD
VERTICAL: 33.5"
BROAD: 10'6"
POSITIVES
— Accelerates off the ball well and has quick run-pass transitions versus play action.
— Sets up his pass-rushing moves well during the stem phase by using a skip/hesitation step or stemming to the inside to set up an outside move and vice versa.
— Has a wide array of finesse moves to win around the edge like a cross chop, arm over and inside or outside stick moves.
— Solid at turning speed to power with a one-arm stab move; he can collapse the pocket against offensive tackles with a weaker base.
— Impressive change of direction, agility and quickness to be an effective looper on line games.
— Good bend to take an efficient path to the quarterback.
— Physical at the point of attack against the run and has solid strength and hand placement to help set the edge versus outside zone; also is hard to reach with his agility.
— Against down blocks, he gets his hands on the offensive linemen to disrupt their path to the second level.
— Recognizes and gets under pullers as the spill player in run fits.
— Has shown flashes of using his quickness to defeat blocks and is solid at engaging with offensive linemen and working around the block to escape without conceding too much ground.
— Snap-to-whistle type of player who takes good angles in pursuit and can factor into gang tackles down the field.
NEGATIVES
— Struggles with consistency and accuracy with his use of hands as a pass-rusher; he'll often miss with his initial chop or needs to finish with a violent rip to get the offensive lineman off him and get a clean win.
— He'll lose contain against scrambling or running quarterbacks because he struggles to break down in the backfield and doesn't bring his feet with him when tackling.
— Lacks the strength to lock out offensive tackles as a run defender; he moves his feet backward and concedes ground to get extension instead of displacing the blocker.
— Will struggle to hold his ground against base blocks in the pros.
— Has a habit of stopping his feet on contact.
— Could afford to add some size and strength to help with his power moves as a pass-rusher and with holding up against the run.
— Brother, Azeez, played at Georgia and was a second-round pick of the New York Giants
— 2022 honors: awarded LSU's coveted No. 18 jersey; first-team All-SEC; two-time SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week
— 2021 honors: one-time SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week
— 2020 honors: one-time SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week
OVERALL
BJ Ojulari went to LSU to forge his own path and break away from Azeez's shadow, but he'll end up on a similar journey as one of the best pass-rushers in this year's draft class.
An underrated aspect of the LSU product's game is that he varies his pass-rushing plan based on the opponent and has enough tools in his toolset to do so. For example, against Tennessee and Darnell Wright, Ojulari worked the edges more since Wright has a good anchor, but against Ole Miss, he relied more on turning speed to power against the Rebels' weaker tackles.
If he can improve his use of hands on his finesse moves and add some strength to be more effective when bull-rushing, Ojulari will be a dangerous pass-rusher in the pros. However, his effectiveness against the run is holding his draft stock back.
While the Tiger is effective against reach blocks/outside zone, on base blocks he concedes too much ground and will struggle to hold up at the point of attack against NFL tackles. Adding some mass will help there too, but he is very reliant on working around blocks right now, which is a risky play style.
Schematically, Ojulari might be limited to a stand-up outside linebacker role in odd fronts. He's just not big and strong enough to put his hand in the ground as a defensive end in even fronts right now. But if a team is looking for immediate pass-rushing help and is willing to be patient with him against the run, he's worth a mid-to-late first-round pick.
