NFL-bound Michigan defender, a projected first-round pick, injured during Pro Day
It’s a sight no one wanted to see. NFL-bound former Michigan defender David Ojabo suffered an injury during the Wolverines’ Pro Day on Friday.
Ojabo got hurt during a pass rush drill and had to be helped off the field, according to NFL.com’s Jeffri Chadiha. It appeared to be a left leg injury, according to Chadiha.
Ojabo was a huge part of the Michigan defense along with Aidan Hutchinson. He had 11 sacks, second on the Wolverines roster only to Hutchinson’s 14. Ojabo is listed as virtually a consensus first-round pick in NFL mock drafts, and ESPN’s Todd McShay projected him to go No. 16 overall to the Indianapolis Colts — via a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles — in his latest mock draft.
Ojabo and Hutchinson helped lead Michigan to a College Football Playoff appearance this past season. The Wolverines went 12-2 in 2021 and lost to Georgia in the Orange Bowl.
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This past season, Ojabo played in 13 games at Michigan and racked up 35 total tackles, including 24 solo stops. He also had 12 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, five forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and three passes defended.
In ESPN NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft, he had Ojabo going 16th overall to the Philadelphia Eagles. NFL.com also recently released a mock draft, where Ojabo was selected with the seventh overall pick by the New York Giants.
Kiper previously mocked Ojabo to the Giants at seventh overall himself in his first mock draft, citing his great upside.
“This is where you get the pass rusher and David Ojabo from Michigan,” stated Kiper, selecting Ojabo for the Giants. “Yeah, Aidan Hutchinson on one side — dynamic. So was this kid. First year as the guy full-time out there getting after the quarterback. Limited in football background, didn’t play football until his junior year in high school. 11 sacks. Five forced fumbles.
“What a player he was. He’s going to keep getting better and better. Opposite of Ojulari that could give the Giants a lot of ability to get after the quarterback.”
Whether or not Ojabo is selected in the top ten remains to be seen, but if he does break Oweh’s mark with a great time in the 40-yard dash on Saturday, he could find himself continuing to slide up draft boards.
On3’s Jonathan Wagner contributed to this report.