Michigan Football: David Ojabo on increased production in 2021
Michigan football has a breakout player on its defense in third-year linebacker David Ojabo. He is tied for the team lead in sacks with seven, a distinction he shares with edge-rushing mate Aidan Hutchinson.
Ojabo, who is of Nigerian descent and moved to Scotland in 2007, is fairly new to football. He moved to the United States for high school and picked up the sport as a junior. His arrival at Michigan made him a work in progress as such a raw talent.
Ojabo knew there was a pecking order in place and practiced patience.
“I knew I was here for a reason,” Ojabo told the media on Tuesday. “I paid my dues. There were people like Josh Uche and Kwity, look at them right now, both making an impact in the league. I’d be a fool to come in thinking I’d play over them or split time with them. They’re first and second-rounders. I just knew when my time comes to just take advantage of that.”
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Ojabo’s breakout season has seen him emerge as one of the best pass rushers in college football. Pro Football Focus grades him as the ninth-ranked edge defender in the country at 89.1. That is up from 42.1 during the 2020 season.
He credits the Michigan staff for helping bring that out of him.
“My coaches put me in the best position possible,” Ojabo said. “I just go out there and execute. It’s all trust. Sometimes you can be hesitant but you just can’t do it, man. You just gotta trust whatever coach put in front of you is going to work, that play. Most times it does. That’s all it is.”
Ojabo’s personal gains
The light has switched on for Ojabo as the mental and physical aspects of the game come together. He explained what the key to that has been.
“Just honing on the details of football and not just relying on my athletic ability,” he said. “I think it’s showing, I’m now understanding what different formations mean and just what the game is all about. It’s helping me.”
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Ojabo also elaborated on what is in his toolbox as he attempts to meet Hutchinson or other teammates in the backfield.
“You’ve got to set up the tackle,” he said. “Especially if you’re about to go up the field, you don’t want to just run by. A little stutter, dance a little bit, slow your feet down and hit that edge.”
Of course, there are team improvements to make. The Michigan State Spartans exposed Michigan’s desire to make substitutions and match personnel against an up-tempo look. Ojabo says it is high on the ist of priorities to improve.
“Everything is a work in progress,” he said. If something is exposed, we come back and work on it. No team is perfect, so that’s something we need to work on in practice. Getting on and off the field quickly. That’s an easy fix.”
Ojabo and the Wolverines are back in action Saturday night against the Indiana Hoosiers. Kickoff from Michigan Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
