Big Ten defensive coordinator addresses Olu Oluwatimi, fall in NFL Draft

Olu Oluwatimi was a dominant force in the interior of the Michigan offensive line. There, he won the Rimington Award as the nation’s top center and helped lead the Wolverines to the fifth-ranked rushing offense in the country.

Despite this, by the time the NFL Draft rolled around, Oluwatimi fell all the way to the fifth round in the NFL Draft where he was taken by the Seattle Seahawks.

For many, Olu Oluwatimi dropping in the draft was a surprise. However, at least one defensive coordinator in the Big Ten has a good idea why that happened. As he explained to ESPN, it hurt Oluwatimi that he was only a center and lacked flexibility.

“We had as much respect for Olu as we did anybody in the league,” the coach said. “But when it comes to the NFL, it’s a little bit different projection.”

Simply put, he was able to succeed at the college level despite the stiffness that he was playing with. However, that’s going to be much harder to do at the NFL level. So, he fell in the draft.

On top of that, rosters are smaller in the NFL. Versatility on the offensive line matters and while it’s possible that Oluwatimi could play multiple positions at the NFL level, he only ever showed that he was a center while at Michigan.

Despite this, analyst Joel Klatt thinks that Olu Oluwatimi is going to be a steal for the Seahawks.

“Here’s a guy that I think can and will be a starter in the National Football League. And he’s not a guy that projects super high into the draft,” said Klatt. “Therefore, I think that this is a draft steal. And it is the Rimington Award winner, Outland Award winner Olu Oluwatimi the center from Michigan.”

Olu Oluwatimi sent a message to transfers

Olu Oluwatimi was a transfer to Michigan. At his Pro Day, he sent a message to potential transfers, explaining that it’s not where you start, it’s where you finish.

“I definitely feel like I could have made the jump last year. Probably don’t know if I would’ve got drafted. That’s probably the only thing. But at the end of the day, it’s not where you start, it is where you finish for the NFL,” Oluwatimi said.

“I feel like could have made the jump last year, but I feel like I positioned myself coming here and I’m pretty sure I’ll get drafted, hopefully. I’m happy right where I am at.”