Los Angeles Rams select Ochaun Mathis in sixth round of 2023 NFL Draft

Nebraska EDGE Ochaun Mathis has been selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the sixth round with the No. 189 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Mathis spent the first four years of his college career at TCU, where he was a key member of the Horned Frogs defense.

For three years, Mathis was a starter for TCU on the defensive line. He earned a spot on the All-Big 12 second team in 2020 and 2021. His best season was during the 2020 COVID year when he totaled 46 tackles overall, 14 tackles for loss and nine sacks. He was also named the 2020 Honorable-Mention Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year.

His production continued in 2021 — albeit not at the level as during 2020 — with 46 tackles, four sacks and seven tackles for loss.

After the 2021 season, Mathis transferred to Nebraska. He spent one season with the Cornhuskers, playing in all 12 games and starting two. He had 50 tackles with 3.5 sacks, five tackles for loss and two pass breakups.

Mathis attended Manor (Texas) High, which is a suburb north of Austin. He was ranked as the No. 751 overall recruit and No. 56 EDGE in the 2018 On3 Industry Ranking coming out of high school. The On3 Industry is a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four major recruiting media services. The On3 Industry Ranking is the most advanced, complete and unbiased rating and ranking measurement in the industry. 

What NFL draft analysts are saying about Ochaun Mathis

NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein says that Mathis has “arms like vines” and “can slither around traffic and make challenging tackles.” However, he adds that Mathis needs to get stronger.

“Mathis’ 2020 season put him on the map as an edge defender to look out for in the future, but he’s failed to hit those production markers since then,” Zierlein said in his scouting report. “He has good size and outstanding length but needs more time in the weight room. He struggles against downhill running attacks but is a slippery tackler who can cast a wide net near his gaps. Mathis’ pressure and sack counts aren’t as high as they should be with his athletic ability and traits. If a team can get him to become a more skilled and attack-oriented rusher, it might find a prospect who outplays his draft slotting as a 3-4 rush linebacker.”