Why Owamagbe Odighizuwa Will Have Greater Impact in NFL Than College

Teams that don’t get the opportunity to draft one of the top few edge players in the 2015 NFL draft shouldn’t worry as long as UCLA’s Owamagbe Odighizuwa is still on the board. The 6’3”, 267-pound defensive end with long arms and a chiseled frame has everything an NFL team could want in an edge player.

Odighizuwa is also one of the rare prospects who will have a greater impact in the NFL than he did in college. He is equal parts workout warrior, work ethic wizard and football player, and the only thing missing from Odighizuwa’s game is reportedly an arsenal of pass-rush moves.

Every draft prospect has something to learn once they get to the pro level. Odighizuwa might have more to learn, but he also brings a lot more to the table than the average prospect. What often separates productive players from unproductive ones is their capacity to learn, and Odighizuwa has demonstrated that capacity during his college career.

Odighizuwa would likely be a more refined pass-rusher if not for two hip surgeries that cost him all of the 2013 season. It not only delayed his development a year, but the injuries could also push him down draft boards if there is a risk of re-injury.

Each team will have to determine the acceptable risk when it comes to his hips, but it clearly didn’t hinder him in 2014. Odighizuwa returned last season to make 11.5 tackles for a loss. Despite UCLA asking him to set the edge in the run game as a 3-4 defensive end, Odighizuwa also had six sacks. He has essentially doubled his production every year he played since he was a sophomore.

Switching positions is yet another reason he will be more productive at the NFL level. Odighizuwa will play 4-3 defensive end or possibly 3-4 outside linebacker, so he’ll have a better shot to show off his insane athletic abilities.

“Teams have gotten a chance to see him work in space,” UCLA coach Jim Mora said, via Chris Foster of the Los Angeles Times. “People are seeing the type of player he is and are really appreciating him.”

When Odighizuwa did get opportunities to get after the quarterback, he proved to be productive. According to Pro Football Focus, he had the fourth-best pass-rush productivity of any interior player against Power Five conferences. On 425 pass-rush snaps, Odighizuwa had 55 total pressures for a pass-rush productivity of 10.2 percent.

“Playing end in a 3-4 [defense], you’re not going to get sack numbers,” Odighizuwa said, via Foster. “But I’m confident I can be an outside pass rusher, like Anthony Barr.”

Pass Rush

Odighizuwa is confident because he’s done it. He is certainly not getting the credit he deserves as a pass-rusher even if he needs to refine some of his technique. Although he primarily played from the inside, his quick first step, strength and explosiveness made him hard for opposing offensive guards and tackles to block.

Against USC, Odighizuwa was a force against both the run and pass. On this play rushing from the outside, he successfully executed a “bull jerk” pass-rush move against the left tackle and got a free run at the quarterback.

Having set up his inside move throughout the game against Utah, Odighizuwa had the left tackle jumping inside because of his quickness and get-off. When the offensive tackle jumped inside, Odighizuwa simply used his bust to get off the edge, and all the tackle could manage was a weak push.

One of the great things about Odighizuwa is also his versatility to play inside on passing downs. Odighizuwa not only has experience inside, but he has long arms and the strength to play inside despite only weighing around 270 pounds.

Against USC, he routinely beat the right guard with stab and rip moves that he played off his bull rush. He did it both going inside and outside of the guard, which means he can probably line up anywhere in a defensive front on passing downs and get pressure.

Run Defense

Not to be lost is that Odighizuwa is very good against the run. He mauls college guards, offensive tackles can’t push him off the edge and when he isn’t in position, he makes up for it with hustle.

On this play against Utah, the tackle can’t move him even an inch backward. Odighizuwa ends up disengaging from the block and making the tackle for a loss. This is a textbook example of how to set the edge.

On this play inside the 5-yard line on 4th-and-2, Odighizuwa pushes the USC guard back several yards before shedding the block and making the tackle to stop the running back short of the first down.

If he can dominate like this at the college level playing 3-4 defensive end, he’s going to be even better playing 4-3 end or against tight ends as a 3-4 outside linebacker. When he isn’t making plays, he’ll be trying like a mad man.

Coaches and fans will love Odighizuwa’s effort to chase down plays he has no business making. He does have good straight-line speed, so he’s usually not far behind and is often the second tackler to arrive even if he’s chasing the play from the opposite side of the field.

On this play against Utah, he lines up at right defensive end and ends up making the tackle on the opposite sideline. Not only is it an athletic play, but it’s also one few defensive ends can make either because they are too slow or aren’t giving this kind of effort.

Odighizuwa is the type of player worth standing on the table to draft. If his hips check out, he should also be hearing his name called on Day 1.