Seattle Seahawks select Olu Oluwatimi in fifth round of 2023 NFL Draft
The Seattle Seahawks selected Michigan offensive lineman Olu Oluwatimi with the No. 154 pick in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
The season was almost dreamlike for Oluwatimi. He and the Wolverines meshed together almost instantly and seamlessly in their lone season together. That allowed for the one-time Michigan offensive line star to rack up several awards.
Many thought after Michigan’s offensive line won the Joe Moore Award last season that they would take a step back with the departures they had last offseason. But with Oluwatimi leading the Wolverines’ offensive line, they became the first-ever back-to-back recipients of the award.
As a member of the Class of 2017, Oluwantimi was not ranked, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He originally committed to Air Force before an eventual transfer to Michigan and played his high school football in Hyattsville (M.D.) DeMatha Catholic.
What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Olu Oluwatimi
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein broke down the scouting report of Oluwatimi ahead of the NFL Draft.
Zierlein was a big fan of Oluwatimi’s athleticism in his ability to play with above average core strength and consistently centering double team blocks as the first offensive lineman to make contact.
Plus, his pass protection is a big-plus.
“Four-year starter and highly decorated player who was part of a unit that won the Joe Moore Award (best offensive line in college football) in consecutive years,” Zierlein wrote. “Oluwatimi benefited from tight splits and a scheme designed to take advantage of double teams up front. He will bend a little at the waist, but displays good technique on double teams and generates decent drive on base blocks. He lacks the lateral quickness needed for range as a run blocker and must learn to better recognize and respond to twists in pass protection. Oluwatimi has future starting potential but could struggle in a scheme that forces him to play in space.”