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david ojabo
A'm aff tae lassy ye oan mah edges, young jimmy.  [Patrick Barron]

Exit David Ojabo to NFL Comment Count

Seth January 4th, 2022 at 11:45 AM

As expected when his 1st round draft grade came in, and assumed since it came out that international players don’t have a carve-out from labor laws to allow them to make NIL money, David Ojabo has declared for the 2022 NFL Draft.

Ojabo arrived a particularly raw and particularly talented ball of clay in the 2019 class then found himself stuck for most of last year in his native Scotland because of COVID rules. He emerged as a top national defensive end over the course of the 2021 season, and that emergence substantially changed the ceiling on the team’s fortunes as he paired with Heisman candidate Aidan Hutchinson to give the Wolverines the best edge rushing duo in the country. Ojabo was much more than a pass-rusher, often performing the same two-gapping/edge-setting tricks that Hutchinson was asked to, and often at greater frequency as opponents chose to go away from the potential #1 overall pick. That running at Ojabo was hardly a better option is a major reason Michigan finally won the Big Ten and made the playoffs.

Replacing both of them is impossible, though of course we said the same thing about Kwity Paye last year. Michigan will hope to develop another pair of that ilk out of thus-far non-pass rushers Taylor Upshaw and Mike Morris, LB/DE hybrid Jaylen Harrell, promising Braiden McGregor, or one of their 2021 or 2022 freshmen.

Comments

bronxblue

January 4th, 2022 at 11:53 AM ^

A really impressive career maturation for Ojabo; selfishly wished he had been a bit less impressive so he'd have given college one more year but obviously the right move and what a year to have.  Good luck to him in the NFL.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171747

WFNY_DP

January 5th, 2022 at 9:51 AM ^

I think it really depends on where each of them land. If Hutch ends up in Jacksonville, or Detroit, or Houston under their current rudderless ship, who knows how effective he could be.

Whereas if Ojabo goes later and ends up in Pittsburgh? Or Baltimore? Or New England? Or some other place that has a good system in place and knows how to develop players properly? With his physical tools he could have a much better statistical run over the next decade.

Joined: 02/03/2010

MGoPoints: 2995

xgojim

January 4th, 2022 at 12:39 PM ^

David Ojabo becomes M's poster child for what can happen when a player puts in the hard work and maintains a positive attitude, no matter what the background.  It obviously also helps if the innate talent and potential exists!  To think he entered this season as one of many with minimal credentials and ended it with All-American status and first round NFL hopes is totally amazing.

And kudos to the coaching staff for identifying him as scholarship material and then helping him to develop his talent.  His story will resonate for some time and will certainly help in future recruiting!

Thank you for your presence, David Ojabo, and good luck in your bright future!

Joined: 11/03/2012

MGoPoints: 2325

MGoStrength

January 4th, 2022 at 11:56 AM ^

Was hoping he'd stay, but can't blame him and his production this year for an early departure was well worth it.  Good luck in the NFL!

Joined: 07/29/2010

MGoPoints: 20002

schreibee

January 4th, 2022 at 12:00 PM ^

That announcement, with all the very specific & thoughtful shout-outs, was actually quite moving! 

What a genuine young man of quality we have there. Dare I trot out everyone's favorite aphorism to debate on this blog - a true Michigan Man!

I wish him the very best, and know he'll be a great representative for UM for years to come! Hope he lucks into the right NFL situation, as that can make all the difference in how your career goes.

Thanks for choosing Michigan, King - go wreck some QBs at the next level! 

Joined: 11/02/2009

MGoPoints: 21143

Code-7

January 4th, 2022 at 12:01 PM ^

O-JAB-O! Good luck, young man. Keep that determination and you will continue to accomplish great things as you've been known to do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joined: 02/27/2014

MGoPoints: 19863

schreibee

January 4th, 2022 at 3:49 PM ^

If guys are making the decision to enter the draft based strictly on $ - as implied in many comments in this thread - then I'm very curious at what draft slot does a really good NIL program equal or even surpass the NFL salary?

20 for the right player? 30? 40+?

This doesn't apply to King Jabo because he's ineligible for NIL$ as a foreign student. But for say Dax? Projected to go between 25-40. What's the salary for a early-mid 2nd rounder?

Could that figure be met or exceeded in NIL$?

Just curious ?‍♂️

Joined: 11/02/2009

MGoPoints: 21143

M_Born M_Believer

January 4th, 2022 at 12:13 PM ^

Congrats David on making a dream come true.

Thank you for your commitment to Michigan...

You will be remember for many things, but to have Gus Johnson put an exclamation mark on the OSU game with your last sack will be in Michigan lore.....

O - JA - BO!!!!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEgxWj8_rTQ

 

Joined: 11/11/2009

MGoPoints: 11786

bluesalt

January 4th, 2022 at 12:17 PM ^

Excited for him, and also glad he made that decision.  If he stayed, I’d have been nervously holding my breath every snap he played, worried for an injury.  He worked hard through some very adverse situations the last couple of years, and came out on top.  Looking forward to seeing him in the green room on draft night.

Joined: 11/02/2011

MGoPoints: 8573

schreibee

January 4th, 2022 at 12:29 PM ^

If you're not early you're already late!

Harrell for sure, easily the most impressive looking of the supporting cast at Edge/LB in '21.

But may I submit incoming frosh Derrick Moore as a candidate to do some damage in pass rushing packages.

And I continue to support (I believe) Seth's suggestion Colson be tried there! More get after the QB, less chase down RBs in coverage! 

Joined: 11/02/2009

MGoPoints: 21143

iMBlue2

January 4th, 2022 at 12:29 PM ^

I remember reading he was comped as An extremely raw Zach Harrison if everyone remembers that whole thing.  I’d say Mr. Ojabo picked up the nuance of his position quite well. He surpassed Harrison with all that star power and simply played superior football with stats to match.  

Joined: 11/24/2017

MGoPoints: 15871

dragonchild

January 4th, 2022 at 12:42 PM ^

It was so frustrating watching refs stand not five yards away and stare right at him as OTs constantly grabbed his jersey and yanked him past the QB.

His scream after he got brazenly held for the billionth fucking time but sacked Snowflake Stroud anyway was sooo cathartic.

Joined: 10/13/2011

MGoPoints: 60911

harmon40

January 4th, 2022 at 1:07 PM ^

I just love stories like Ojabo's - an international student who comes in having picked up the game only recently, then commits, adapts, develops, and excels. He will never forget his time in Ann Arbor, and of course neither will we

Joined: 05/02/2009

MGoPoints: 5743

True Blue Grit

January 4th, 2022 at 1:07 PM ^

Ojabo is a  great example of how stars in recruiting aren't everything.  For every 5 star out there, there are dozens of players who have the potential to be college stars but have less than 4 stars. Some of them are excellent athletes without much experience.  Others haven't had much exposure to the camps and scouts.  And still others just are late bloomers.   Michigan has done well finding players like him.  Granted, we still need to recruit high level HS players too.  I think it's a combination of both that's important.

Joined: 01/21/2011

MGoPoints: 32373

BuddhaBlue

January 4th, 2022 at 1:12 PM ^

From his Hello post:

247 put together a fascinating series recently in which Barton Simmons looked at the recruiting profiles of 2018 top-100 NFL draftees to spot positive or negative indicators for a prospect's potential. At defensive end, he had three main takeaways: top draft picks usually aren't close to maxing out their weight (avg. 6'4", 233 as recruits), test well at camps, and often play other sports before finding football—most frequently basketball and track. As Simmons noted to conclude the exercise, Ojabo checks all the right boxes:

Finally, David Ojabo may be the most compelling candidate to prove out the 2018 draft trends. He’s late to football with 2017 being his first season ever putting on pads. He still found productivity, logging 35 tackles, six sacks and forcing a pair of fumbles. He’s got a diverse athletic background playing volleyball, basketball and soccer before finding football. He has tested extremely well in a combine setting with a 4.75 40 and a 33-inch vertical at 6-foot-4.5, 233 pounds and he has clocked a 10.93 in the 100 meters. Penn State, Michigan, Texas A&M and Notre Dame are among the contenders for a guy that is very raw but immensely talented.

Michigan may only get one or two seasons of major production from Ojabo, but they should be productive indeed.

 

Joined: 01/06/2017

MGoPoints: 7324

swalburn

January 4th, 2022 at 1:12 PM ^

He has to go when projected to go that high.  This was one of my favorite seasons in Michigan football history and this kid was a major reason why.  I will be rooting for him every Sunday or Monday or Thursday.

Joined: 11/24/2011

MGoPoints: 8025

Rabbit21

January 4th, 2022 at 1:25 PM ^

Good for him and glad he fulfilled the promise that he showed when he was recruited.  Wish he could have been here for longer, but this is obviously the right move.

Here's to having Gus Johnson's

O 

Ja

Bo!

Call be a part of Michigan lore that remains well remembered.

Joined: 11/12/2009

MGoPoints: 30303