WATCH: David Ojabo delivers emotional reaction during 2022 NFL Draft
Former Michigan defensive end David Ojabo is heading to the Baltimore Ravens as their No. 45 overall pick in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. The selection led to an emotional moment as cameras caught the family’s reaction to the news his dreams have finally come true.
Sitting on the couch with his parents and siblings, surrounded by more friends and family, David Ojabo heard his name called by the Ravens and could not hold back the tears. As he went to hug each person around him, he received a call as he put on his draft day hat.
The journey for Ojabo has featured many twists and turns, with the latest coming when he tore his Achilles during Michigan’s Pro Day after projecting as a first-round pick. But experts such as ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. did not think he would fall past the early second round in the days leading up to the draft.
He had 35 tackles and 11.0 sacks, a mark that ranked second on the team behind Hutchinson’s 14.0. They formed a dynamic 1-2 punch for the Wolverines and were two huge reasons why they made the College Football Playoff for the first time.
Out of high school, Ojabo was a four-star recruit and the No. 5 recruit out of New Jersey from the Class of 2019, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
Ravens update David Ojabo injury
Baltimore general manager Eric DeCosta, who drafted David Ojabo as the No. 45 overall pick Friday night, said he thinks he can play at some point during the 2022 season.
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Ojabo suffered the torn Achilles on March 18, so he will not be able to at least start the season in September. However, DeCosta said depending on what the doctors say, there’s a chance he’ll wind up seeing some NFL snaps in his rookie year.
“We rely on our doctors and trainers,” DeCosta said, via BaltimoreRavens.com’s Ryan Mink. “They haven’t seen him since the re-checks and all those things in Indy, but they’re optimistic that at some point this year he’ll have a chance to play.”
Ojabo is not the first Raven to have to come back from an Achilles injury. Terrell Suggs and Steve Smith Sr. both did the same thing.
“We’ve had multiple guys that have done it and come back with very, very predictable results,” DeCosta said. “For us, there might be a delay, but we think he’ll come back with a vengeance and play outstanding football.”