Michigan EDGE David Ojabo injured during pro day: 'Scary sight'
Michigan Wolverines football is holding its pro day Friday, with double-digit prospects taking part as they prepare for the 2022 NFL Draft. All 32 teams are in attendance, with key onlookers including Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and Houston Texans head man Lovie Smith.
Outside linebacker David Ojabo, who left Michigan early after three seasons and is projected as a first-round pick, went down with a leg injury during the workout, according to several who are inside Al Glick Fieldhouse.
“A scary sight at Michigan pro day,” NFL.com’s Jeffri Chadiha tweeted with a photo (shown below). “Edge rusher David Ojabo sustained injury in pass rush drill. Went down clutching left leg. Not sure if ankle or leg but he had to be helped off field.”
In a tweet, ESPN’s Adam Schefter added that Ojabo “limped off the field with the help of trainers.”
Ojabo isn’t just projected as a first-round pick, but the former Michigan star who had a breakout 2021 season is viewed as one who will likely be selected inside the first 10 or 15 picks. The Nigerian born, Scotland-raised pass rusher finished the 2021 campaign with 33 tackles, 11 sacks, five forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He notched 47 pressures and seven hits on the quarterback on 297 pass-rushing snaps.
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He also impressed at last month’s NFL Combine.
“Teams here were enamored with Michigan edge rusher David Ojabo, a candidate to go in the first half of the first round and Mel Kiper Jr.’s No. 11 prospect,” ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano wrote of the former Michigan star. “Teams believe Ojabo needs to add bulk but that he can, after he weighed in at 250 pounds. And he honestly hasn’t played very much football; he switched from basketball during high school and didn’t play as a freshman in college.
“The thought on Ojabo is that if you get him now, you could have a superstar at a critical position in two or three years. To me, that sounds a lot like the kind of guy the Philadelphia Eagles like to draft, and they have three first-round picks (Nos. 15, 16 and 19). Keep an eye out there. They could even move up to get an edge rusher if there’s one they really like.”
Here were the Michigan prospect’s results:
Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 250 pounds (was 6-5, 250 on Michigan’s 2021 roster)
Arm length: 33 1/2″
Hand size: 9″
40-yard dash: 4.55 seconds (sixth out of 20 defensive ends)
20-yard shuttle: 4.45 seconds (ninth out of 10 defensive ends)
Broad jump: 10’2″ (10th out of 22 defensive ends)
Vertical jump: 35.00″ (13th out of 22 defensive ends)
