Name: David Ojabo
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 250 lbs.
High school: Blairstown (NJ) Blair Academy
Position: Outside linebacker
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #55
Last year: I ranked Ojabo #59 and said he would be a backup defensive end (LINK). He made 1 tackle.
TTB Rating: 85
Michigan brought in Ojabo as a project in the 2019 class. He seemed like a guy who could play defensive end in their system, outside linebacker in a 3-4, or maybe even 3-tech in a 4-3 once his body fully developed. It seemed like nobody could get a bead on him because he was a relatively recent convert to American football, having been born in Nigeria and raised in Scotland. Michigan played him at the SAM linebacker position in 2020, a spot that had been vacated by Josh Uche, but Ojabo was not nearly as effective.
Ojabo remains at outside linebacker in 2021 and has a chance to start. He still looked very raw in 2020, and I'm in "wait-and-see" mode. I have heard talk that he could potentially start. I have my doubts and think Michigan has better players, but then again, the learning curve might come into play here. If he was a blank canvas coming in, maybe the picture is starting to take shape. At the very least, I know Aidan Hutchinson will be ahead of him, and I think Taylor Upshaw will be, too. Meanwhile, Braiden McGregor, Jaylen Harrell, and others are waiting in the wings for their opportunity, too.
Prediction: Backup outside linebacker
Your killing me Thunder!!! Another 80+ guy with little experience and a little positive chatter. Hopium is a terrible drug.
ReplyDeleteAfter beating the USA national team in pre-Olympic exhibition, I was listening to Nigeria's coach (Mike Brown, an American who has never set foot in Nigeria) talk about the untapped talent and potential in Africa in general but Nigeria in particular. Basketball is an international game, and American football isn't, so I thought there's probably even more untapped international market in this sport. Michigan has dipped into only a little bit (e.g., Welshoff, Ojabo, the australian punter) but it seems like they should leverage the large alumni base and gain an edge here. Probably not going to find too many skill position guys there yet but physically gifted linemen and defensive guys should be opportunities.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I don't see much reason to worry about Ojabo yet. He was always supposed to take time even before COVID hit. I expect he'll be part of the group trying to fill in around Hutchinson. Starter? I don't see how that would work beside 3DL and Hutchinson. Not sure who is covering Giles Jackson in the slot on that defense...
Michigan doesn't need all these edge guys to hit but they need someone to emerge. Ojabo still seems like one of the guys with talent and promise.
-LANK
People don't know how much of a beast Josh Uche was in high school. I think it was Don Brown that discovered him and recruited him. Chalk another great find up to Don Brown. Here's Uche on video. BEAST!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.hudl.com/video/3/3096785/5721da644df6124b7028d644