Michigan edge rusher David Ojabo puts NFL on notice for upcoming 40-yard dash at NFL Combine

Michigan Wolverines edge rusher David Ojabo has a giant opportunity ahead of him at this weekend’s NFL Scouting Combine. Ojabo is viewed as a first round pick by most, but he can really put a stamp on his stock with a strong performance. Ojabo is specifically looking forward to the upcoming 40-yard dash.

Former Penn State edge rusher Jayson (Odafe) Oweh ran a 4.36 in his 40-yard dash at last year’s NFL Combine. But Ojabo is looking to blow past his impressive time.

“Y’all gonna see,” Ojabo said on potentially breaking Oweh’s mark, via The Draft Network’s Ryan Fowler. “Just let me run.”

After his impressive showing at last year’s NFL Combine, Oweh was selected 31st overall in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens.

Ojabo impressed this season playing opposite of star edge rusher and likely top two pick in this year’s draft, Aidan Hutchinson. The two are both likely first round selections, and Ojabo is looking for a rise with an impressive performance at the Combine.

Ojabo’s stock could be on the rise with a good Combine

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.