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Joel Klatt analyzes BJ Ojulari as a draft prospect

Barkley-Truaxby:Barkley Truax•04/05/23•

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BATON ROUGE, LA - SEPTEMBER 17: LSU Tigers defensive end BJ Ojulari (18) celebrates after a sack during a game between the LSU Tigers and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on September 17, 2022. (Photo by John Korduner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Former LSU EDGE rusher BJ Ojulari was one of the most productive Tigers in Brian Kelly’s defensive unit last season. That has set the stage his shot at a chance to hear his name called within the first two days of April’s NFL Draft.

Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt broke down Ojulari’s scouting report and explained what makes him a dark horse to be one of the best rookies in the league next season.

“When you look at his career, you see first-team All-SEC last year. Good production over the past couple years. 7.0 sacks a couple of years ago, 5.5 last year,” Klatt said. “Remember, he goes through a coaching change, a defensive switch. It’s hard to be productive when you’re changing systems and BJ was. Now, can he be inconsistent against the run at times? Yes. That’s why he’s not one of the top EDGE rushers in the draft.

“But if you’re not one of the top EDGE rushers, there is still going to be value where he is selected. He is disruptive and in a passing league, when you get to third down and you get a stop to disrupt the timing of the offensive system, what do you need? Pass rushers. He can get to the QB. He can bend, he’s explosive.”

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Klatt has asked around the Alabama locker room and three names continuously pop on the ‘who do we not want to play’ list. Georgia‘s Jalen Carter — once regarded as the consensus No. 1 overall pick — Tennessee WR Jalin Hyatt, and BJ Ojulari. If Ojulari can win the seal of approval from the most dominant program in college football over the past two decades, he can win NFL scouts over, too.

Ojulari had his most productive season for LSU this past year, posting 56 total tackles, 36 solo, with five sacks and a forced fumble. In 2021, he had 54 tackles with the aforementioned seven sacks. He had a career day against Alabama in 2022, racking up 11 tackles and a sack en route to upsetting the Crimson Tide 32-31 in Baton Rouge. He finished his three-year collegiate career with 128 tackles and 16.5 sacks.

Klatt slotted Ojulari as his No. 35 overall prospect in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft and No. 7 EDGE rusher overall. His ranking suggests he could go anywhere between the end of the first and second rounds.