2021 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Osa Odighizuwa





  • Osa Odighizuwa, 6-2/280

  • Defensive Tackle

  • UCLA


  • Osa Odighizuwa Scouting Report
    By Charlie Campbell

    Strengths:
  • Athletic; fast interior pass rusher
  • Closes on quarterbacks in a hurry
  • Speed to dart by guards
  • Natural pad level
  • Can redirect
  • Can sink his hips and play low
  • Agile to contort his body
  • Active hands to fight off blockers
  • Good vision, awareness
  • Dangerous three-technique rusher for a 4-3
  • Athletic upside to improve in the NFL




  • Weaknesses:
  • Weak run defender
  • Lacks size, weight and length
  • Struggles with downhill runs straight at him
  • Tweener body type
  • Could be limited to DPR role only


  • Summary: If the name Odighizuwa sounds familiar, its because Owa Odighizuwa is the younger brother of Owa Odighizuwa, who was a third-round pick of the Giants in the 2015 NFL Draft but didn’t stick in the NFL. Osa Odighizuwa was a steady interior pass rusher over the past three years for the Bruins. In 2018, his first season of consistent playing time, he collected 29 tackles, three sacks and two passes defended. Odighizuwa then produced his highest tackle totals in 2019 with 46 stops, 3.5 sacks and a pass batted. As a senior in 2020, Odighizuwa played well, getting after the quarterback to the tune of four sacks over seven games. He had 30 tackles and a pass batted as well in 2020.

    Odighizuwa’s interior pass-rush ability is really what he makes him stand out. He has a burst off the snap that lets him fire upfield to penetrate into the pocket, and his relentless motor helps him to finish rushes by outfighting blockers to get to the quarterback. Odighizuwa uses active hands to keep guards from getting a hold of him, and his natural pad level keeps him low and helps him generate good leverage. Thanks to his decent athleticism and agility, Odighizuwa can contort his body to dip underneath blockers and keep gaining on the quarterback. Odighizuwa’s speed and athleticism to contribute in the pass rush are his calling cards to get drafted and play in the NFL.



    Odighizuwa’s n run defense is a liability entering the next level. Considering he is vastly undersized for a pro defensive tackle, those issues may never change. Odighizuwa lacks length, height and weight to stand up blockers and keep them from getting a push. He can get knocked off the ball, and power guards in the NFL are going to pose a problem for pushing Odighizuwa out of his gap. He is going to have real issues defending downhill runs coming straight at him.

    Odighizuwa has a tweener body type for the next level. He lacks the height and length to play defensive end while not having the weight to be a three-down starter as a defensive tackle. His best fit could be as a three-technique in a 4-3 defense, but even for that role, he will need to gain weight and strength to become a starter. He might be relegated to an interior designated pass rusher to come into the game in obvious passing situations.

    In the 2021 NFL Draft, Odighizuwa could go as high as the third round. If he slips to the final day of the draft, he could go in the fourth or fifth round.



    Player Comparison: Denico Autry. Odighizuwa is like a shorter version of Autry. Autry (6-5, 285) has issues holding up as a run defender but is a dangerous interior pass rusher while being light for a NFL defensive tackle. If Odighizuwa can stick in the NFL, he could be a dangerous interior rusher similar to Autry.






    RELATED LINKS:


    2021 NFL Mock Draft: Charlie’s | Walt’s


    2021 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings


    2021 NFL Draft Paris Odighizuwas








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