The 2023 NFL Draft will be a great event for teams to start building for their future. Here is the BJ Ojulari 2023 NFL Draft Profile.
Position: Edge Rusher
School: LSU
Size: 6-foot-3, 244 pounds
Class: Junior
2022 Stats: 58 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery
Ojulari’s older brother Azeez was selected in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Now, BJ is in the 2023 NFL Draft.
As a high school recruit, Ojulari was rated four stars and decided to sign with LSU out of the state of Georgia. He was mostly a rotational lineman as a freshman, finishing the season with five tackles for loss and four sacks. Ojulari moved into the starting lineup in 2021, totaling 54 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and seven sacks. LSU finished with a 6-7 record that season. For the 2022 season, Ojulari had 58 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. LSU won 10 games, including the Camping World Bowl.
Following the season, Ojulari decided to enter the 2023 NFL Draft and join his brother as a professional. He is a projected day-two pick.
Ojulari is a good athlete, as he shows good mobility and flexibility. He can move quickly in a straight line or laterally. The athleticism and speed help him win on the edge and so too does his flexibility. He is able to bend to get around offensive linemen and then he can quickly straighten out and get to the quarterback.
His ability to get a jump at the snap of the ball is impressive. He times the snap well and is able to get one step ahead of opposing offensive linemen. This is very helpful, as he already has the speed and quickness to beat them. His ability to get a good start to the play makes opponents react to him.
He has a few different pass rush moves to go with his natural ability to bend around the edge. Ojulari can do a rip, swim, ghost and a few other moves. His athleticism and these pass-rush moves give him a chance to be a productive pass rusher at the next level.
Ojulari does not have the average size of an NFL pass rusher. At 6-foot-3 and 244 pounds, he is a little undersized. He will want to add play strength to his game to show he can hold up on the defensive line. With his size, comes a lack of length that could make it tough to disengage from blocks.
While he has the athleticism to run down ball carriers, his run defense could use a lot of work. He struggles to shed blocks consistently to make plays on the ball. There are also times where it looks like he could do a better job of fighting to get to the football.
He has a tendency to have his pad level too high. Ojulari isn’t a powerful player already, and when he stands straight up, he loses a lot of power. He needs to keep his pad level low and with added play strength, he can hold up on the defensive line.
Projected Draft Range: Second-Round Pick
Draft Grade: Second-Round Pick
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