Georgia edge rusher Azeez Ojulari 2021 NFL Draft scouting report
2021 NFL Draft scouting report on Georgia edge rusher Azeez Ojulari
Gregory Rousseau has commonly been considered the top edge rusher in the 2021 NFL Draft class and Kwity Paye joined him towards the top of the class with a strong start to the 2020 season. That being said, Georgia edge rusher Azeez Ojulari has been one of the most impactful defenders in college football this season and is getting some hype as the possible EDGE1 in the 2021 NFL Draft class.
In this post, we are going to dig into Ojulari’s game a bit and try to determine whether the hype is warranted.
Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia
Class: Redshirt Sophomore
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 240 pounds
2019 stats (10 games): 31 total tackles (12.5 for loss), 9.5 sacks and four forced fumbles
Career stats (23 games): 68 total tackles (18.5 for loss), 15 sacks and five forced fumbles
Ojulari was an exciting four-star outside linebacker prospect from Georgia out of high school. He received many major offers from around the country (Alabama, Notre Dame, Auburn, Oklahoma and many more) but decided to stay close to home and play his college ball for the Bulldogs.
During his first year on campus (2018), Ojulari played in only two games and took a redshirt season. He became a full-time starter for the Bulldogs in 2019 and played well. However, he took his game to the next level in 2020, quickly becoming one of the premier defenders in the SEC.
Ojulari is a long and athletic edge rusher who shows an impressive combination of burst and quickness up front. He fires off of the ball in an instant, consistently shows fantastic upfield burst and bends around the edge with ease. He is an incredibly flexible player who does a great job of dipping low around the offensive tackle while maintaining his speed on his way to the quarterback.
While Ojulari’s speed and athleticism consistently stand out on tape, he is also a technically sound edge rusher who does a great job of making the most out of his abilities. Ojulari shows fantastic natural hand usage as a pass rusher and run defender, doing a great job of keeping opposing blockers away from his body. He also shows a wide array of inside and outside moves that keeps opposing offensive linemen guessing throughout the game.
Ojulari is not the most powerful defender up front but he certainly looked stronger this season and shows the ability to set a solid edge. His instincts as a run defender are improving and he should be able to hold his own in that department at the next level.
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That being said, it is his exciting upside as a pass rusher that makes Ojulari such an intriguing 2021 NFL Draft prospect. His physical skill-set is for real and Ojulari has a knack for creating consistent pressure on the quarterback. Teams are going to fall in love with his game and Ojulari is extremely likely to be a first-round pick next April. With a strong performance at the combine, Ojulari could jump into EDGE1 contention and become a potential top-10 selection.