2023 NFL Draft: LSU edge rusher B.J. Ojulari could be an early second-round steal

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One of many strongest place teams within the 2023 NFL Draft is edge rusher. You’ve heard all of the names on the high by now: Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr., Texas Tech’s Tyree Wilson, Clemson’s Myles Murphy, and extra. However what in regards to the tier of prospects behind them? It’s a giant group with so much of expertise, and probably the most fascinating gamers of all is LSU’s BJ Ojulari.

The identify would possibly instantly ring a bell, as BJ is the youthful brother of former Georgia edge rusher Azeez Ojulari, who was a second-round decide of the New York Giants again in 2021. BJ Ojulari has had a really related trajectory, starting his profession as a high highschool recruit out of the state of Georgia earlier than taking part in his faculty soccer within the SEC.

Ojulari earned speedy snaps and manufacturing at LSU, taking part in in eight video games as a real freshman and placing up a powerful 4.0 sacks and 5.0 TFL. He turned a full-time starter in 2021, main the crew with 7.0 sacks in 13 video games. Ojulari continued on to win All-SEC honors after a dominant however injury-shortened 2022, with 5.5 sacks and eight.5 TFL in simply 11 video games.

What makes BJ Ojulari such an efficient cross rusher?

Proper off the bat, it’s apparent that BJ Ojulari has an elite “trump card” trait: his capacity to bend the sting. Ojulari is the perfect prospect within the class on this space, and it’s a particular attribute. His stability and physique management when turning the nook, mixed with an explosive first step, make him extraordinarily tough to dam. All however the perfect opposing tackles are compelled into tough selections when attempting to decelerate Ojulari on the surface.

Along with Ojulari’s agility and explosiveness, he’s acquired excellent size for the place. His 34.25-inch arms put him within the 77th percentile amongst edge rushers, based on MockDraftable. Ojulari makes use of his size successfully to maintain himself clear in the course of the rush, and he has confirmed off some very efficient cross rush strikes. That size comes into play when setting the sting in opposition to the run, giving Ojulari a large deal with radius and serving to him neutralize blocks from tight ends.

Ojulari can be very good participant who was relied upon extensively in zone protection, showcasing his versatility and skill to play a number of roles for a protection. I’d even argue that LSU used him an excessive amount of in protection, given his capacity as a cross rusher. He was not often out of place in opposition to the run and is a reliable comprise participant on the surface.

What are the weaknesses in BJ Ojulari’s recreation?

BJ Ojulari is an excellent cross rusher, however his play in opposition to the run might stand to enhance. He’s not overly bodily and tends to win extra with athleticism and positioning than energy. Ojulari has a large deal with radius however doesn’t hit with as a lot energy as he ought to, and he can battle to get off blocks at occasions. I’d wish to see extra effort in pursuit, the place Ojulari has proven to be very harmful however tends to let off the fuel too early.

There’s nonetheless room for enchancment by way of Ojulari’s cross rush repertoire and skill to make and execute a constant cross rush plan. His explosiveness and bend often leaves opponents susceptible to an inside transfer, and I’d wish to see Ojulari develop a extra constant counter to take benefit.

BJ Ojulari’s highlights in opposition to Mississippi State

BJ Ojulari outcomes on the 2023 NFL Mix

BJ Ojulari measured in at over 6’2, 248 lbs, placing him on the small aspect for an NFL edge rusher. He did check out with wonderful jumps, together with a ten’6 broad bounce (ninety fifth percentile). As Relative Athletic Rating doesn’t have an “EDGE” class, I ran Ojulari at linebacker—the place he examined out as a wonderful general athlete at 8.61u out of 10.

What others are saying about BJ Ojulari

Right here’s how NFL Community draft analyst Lance Zierlein described Ojulari in his official scouting report:

Stand-up rush linebacker with upside as a cross rusher however inconsistent effort stopping the run. Ojulari is flexible as an edge rusher and can wreak considerably extra pocket havoc as soon as he builds a extra full rush plan. He performs comprise as a run defender and has the pursuit pace to spill the run huge or make tackles in area, however must play with constant effort on all run snaps. BJ Ojulari possesses all of the instruments essential to begin for an NFL crew as soon as he provides a bit extra polish to his recreation.

BJ Ojulari is a high-upside cross speeding prospect with the flexibility to make a right away NFL affect. He’s acquired some points to scrub up within the run recreation, however nothing that offers me important concern. Participant’s with Ojulari’s cross rush expertise would often be taken within the late first-round vary, however this 12 months’s extraordinarily deep group of edge rushers might see him pushed into the primary half of the second spherical.

At that price ticket, NFL groups ought to be very excited so as to add a prospect of BJ Ojulari’s caliber. As an early-career cross rush specialist who provides protection versatility and potential three-down capacity in time, Ojulari might wind up being a second-round steal.