WATCH: LSU defensive end BJ Ojulari vows to step up as leader

On3 imageby:Jonathan Wagner05/24/22

Jonathan Wagner

The LSU Tigers underwent a lot of changes in the football program during the offseason, notably with Brian Kelly taking over as the team’s new head coach. As LSU begins its new era under Kelly, third-year defensive lineman BJ Ojulari is liking where things are heading.

When asked about the changes under Kelly, Ojulari said that LSU had a great spring and the team chemistry is at “an all-time high.”

“I think we’re headed in a great direction,” Ojulari said. “We had a great spring. The chemistry is at an all-time high and I think everybody is on the same page and has the same goal in mind. Our depth is going to be way, way better this year and we’re going to be more efficient in my opinion.”

Under Kelly, Ojulari has noticed a lot more accountability within the program. That’s not just between the players and the coaching staff, but from player to player as well.

“You’re held accountable,” he said. “Everything you do is tracked. So it’s just holding the players more accountable in my opinion. Everybody is more relying on everybody and just building leadership as well.”

Ojulari looking to step up as a leader for LSU

As a freshman at LSU in 2020, Ojulari suited up in eight games and totaled 16 tackles with five tackles for loss, four sacks, one pass defended, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Last season, he played in 12 games with 54 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and one pass defended.

Ojulari has already seen himself improve on the field, but emerging as a leader is something that he has vowed to do as a new era gets underway with the Tigers.

“I need to be more vocal and I feel like I can do that this year,” said Ojulari. “On and really off the field. Just be that face of the team, of leadership and just lead us into the season and hopefully a national championship.”

Another strong season could result in Ojulari becoming a first round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. ESPN’s Todd McShay projected him as the No. 23 overall pick in his way-too-early mock for next offseason.

Ojulari was a four-star recruit, a national top 80 player and the No. 5-rated EDGE player in the 2020 class, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.