2022 NFL Draft: Michigan EDGE David Ojabo Has Arrived

Michigan Wolverines edge rusher David Ojabo is having a great season, and he could put his hat in the ring for the 2022 NFL Draft.

It’s no secret that the 2022 NFL Draft edge class is set to be an extremely deep one, with potential starters littered throughout the first few rounds in terms of current grades. Michigan boasts two of those guys. You likely know Aidan Hutchinson, but David Ojabo has burst onto the scene in 2021 and could join his teammate in declaring.

Ojabo was born in Nigeria and moved to Scotland before coming to the United States, and started playing football as a junior in high school. He registered six sacks as a junior, and had 8.5 more as a senior. He was listed as a four star recruit and ended up going to Michigan. He redshirted as a freshman and only saw 26 snaps in 2020, so the expectations weren’t super high heading into 2021.

Ojabo took those expectations and blew them out of the water. So far in 2021, Ojabo has five sacks, five tackles for loss, three passes defensed, and two forced fumbles. He’s seen plenty of one-on-ones on the edge, and he’s capitalized on that opportunity. Ojabo is winning with great explosion, athleticism, and closing speed on the edge. He can win around the outside arc or convert speed to power to collapse the pocket. As good as he’s been as a pass rusher, Ojabo has also looked good against the run with his athleticism and power, showing off the play speed and quickness to chase down opponents on the edge.

His hand usage could use improvement, and it’s something that can be developed, but David Ojabo has arrived as a legit prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft. It’ll be interesting to see if the redshirt sophomore declares after the season, especially in a deep class. Don’t be fooled though; Ojabo won’t get lost in the depth of the class. He could rise near the top.