Duke Ejiofor, DE, Wake Forest: 2018 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Duke Ejiofor, a 2013 three-star recruit, started 30 of 42 career games for Wake Forest

Duke Ejiofor led Wake Forest in sacks each of his final three seasons and amassed 23.5 for his career. He was named third-team all-ACC as a junior and second team as a senior. He possesses solid size with good athletic ability. He has accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl.

He missed the North Carolina State game in 2017 because of a lower leg injury. Ejiofor also missed the final two games of his freshman season and the first five games of his sophomore year as a result of two separate concussions.

He lines up at both left and right defensive end in the Demon Deacon’s 4-3 defense. He’s played for one head coach and two defensive coordinators during his college career.

Age During Rookie Season: 23 (April 24, 1995)

Measurables

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 275 lbs.

Games Watched

2017: Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Texas A&M

2016: Temple

Strengths

Duke Ejiofor aggressively attacks the offensive line at the snap. He demonstrates good timing with his hands and possesses a very good swat to prevent an offensive player from engaging as he rushes the passer. He displays solid quickness and several effective moves, such as a rip, spin, and swim, to elude blocks and get into the backfield.

On this play, Ejiofor showcases his agility against the right guard from his left defensive end position. Off the snap, he sidesteps the guard and fills the gap before the running back even takes the handoff. He takes on the ball carrier one-on-one in the hole and plants his feet in the ground to gain leverage and prevent the back from gaining any yardage after contact.

Along with the quickness he displayed in the previous play, Ejiofor’s closing speed is another example of solid athletic ability. He closes on the ball carrier quickly and is a very good finisher. He’s a good wrap-up tackler who minimizes yards after contact.

This play against Texas A&M is a perfect example. Ejiofor recognizes the screen pass immediately and takes off after the running back from his left defensive end position. Unblocked, he prevents the play from getting to the edge and takes down the receiver for an 8-yard loss.

Ejiofor displayed good range on that screen pass and showed similar range against the run as well, utilizing solid lateral agility to move down the line of scrimmage and make a stop. He possesses a high motor and doesn’t give up on a play until it’s over.

Weaknesses

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Duke Ejiofor displays adequate explosiveness off the snap and is rarely the first defender off the line when rushing the passer. When a blocker can get his hands on Ejiofor, he struggles to disengage as a result of marginal play strength. To avoid being engulfed by a lineman, he takes a wide, circuitous route to the quarterback rather than bending the edge.

Ejiofor doesn’t drop into coverage often, however when he does, he displays marginal footwork and awareness when receivers enter his zone.

Against the run, Ejiofor displays adequate instincts and fails to maintain gap integrity as he is caught guessing rather than reading and reacting.

In the 2017 contest against Florida State, Ejiofor overpursues the play and is easily pushed all the way past the opposite hash by the tight end to the right of the formation. The running back sees the open lane vacated by Ejiofor and cuts back to his right. The fullback takes out the last defender in the middle of the field as the running back picks up 15 yards on the play.

When blocked, Ejiofor demonstrates marginal leverage as he allows offensive linemen to get under his pads and push him off the line of scrimmage.

Overall

Overall, Duke Ejiofor is a backup defensive end at the next level who wins with competitive toughness and play speed. He’s not someone who possesses the run-stopping ability to be a starter at this time. From a size and athleticism standpoint, Ejiofor is best suited to play a six or seven technique as the left defensive end in a 4-3 defensive front. However, his inability to gain leverage against a power running game is a major concern. As a result, he’ll likely only see the field on passing downs early in his career.

Next: Jaylen Samuels, FB, NC State: 2018 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Ejiofor should also be a solid contributor on special teams as his athleticism and closing speed would be a nice addition to a coverage unit. A good showing at the Senior Bowl and Scouting Combine would boost his stock, but as of now, Ejiofor grades out as an early day three selection in the 2018 NFL Draft.

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