From now until the 2023 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way down to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents. Today, I’ll be profiling Texas defensive lineman Moro Ojomo.
#98 Moro Ojomo, Texas (Gr. Senior) — 6025, 292 LBs.
East-West Shrine Bowl participant
Measurements
| Player | Ht/Wt | Hand Size | Arm Length | Wingspan |
| Moro Ojomo | 6025, 292 | 10 3/8″ | 34 1/2″ | N/A |
| 40-Yard Dash | 10-Yard Dash | Short Shuttle | 3-Cone | |
| 5.03 | 1.77 | DNP | 7.45 | |
| Broad Jump | Vertical | Bench Press | ||
| 9’4″ | 33″ | 27 |
The Good
-Understands leverages in the run game and is able to fight across blocks to make plays
-Motor that runs hot through the whistle every single snap
-Has great length overall for the position
-Uses hands well in the run game at the point of attack to discard blockers and make a play
-Natural functional strength that shows up on film against the run
-Quick first step off the snap to close ground to blocker; shows speed to shoot gaps and win quickly
-Comfortable lining up all over the defensive front in a number of roles
-Consistently sets the edge as a run defender; turns runs back inside to teammates
-Flashes an elite-level long arm as a pass rusher
The Bad
-Limited pass rusher due to unrefined hand usage in passing situations
-Wins more on effort as pass rusher than with technique
-Limited production overall at Texas as part of a heavy rotation along defensive line
-Bit of a ‘tweener; what’s his true position?
-Can get rolled up in the run game against double teams; lacks the weight to handle that type of gap-plugging role
-Ends up on the ground too much, whether that’s rushing the passer or taking on a double team in the run game
-Hips seem pretty tight overall when asked to flip and run in space
Bio
-Fifth-year senior who appeared in 50 career games at Texas, starting 30 games for the Longhorns
-Finished career with 95 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, two passes defensed and one fumble recovery
-Named a 2022 second-team All-Big 12 by the Associated Press and an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection by the league’s coaches
-Named a first team Academic All-Big 12 in 2020, 2021 and 2022 and earned seven Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll recognitions
-Set career-highs with 33 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and one forced fumble and added two quarterback hurries in 2022
-Former top 300 recruit coming out of high school, top 25 defensive tackle in the country
-Born in Lagos, Nigeria and moved to California when he was seven years old; moved to Texas when he was in seventh grade
Tape Breakdown
In today’s NFL, defenses need those versatile, athletic defensive pieces at all three levels that can play in all situations. Texas defensive lineman Moro Ojomo is that guy, entering the NFL at just the right time with where the game is.
Though slightly undersized for an interior defensive lineman at 6025, 295 pounds, Ojomo has good functional strength and holds up well against the run, whether he’s lined up inside in a 3 or 3i technique, as well as a 5 technique. He moved all over the Texas defensive line the last two years and was a key piece as part of a deep, talented rotation in Austin.
There’s a good run defender in there from Day One, though he leaves much to be desired as a pass rusher despite his elite-level length for the position.
The first thing that stood out about Ojomo, when putting the film on, was his ability to hold up in the run game and consistently make plays. His functional strength as a run defender jumps off the tape.
Look at the way he’s able to gain control here quickly against Alabama in 2022 and then fight across the guard’s face to make a play for a short gain. That’s where the length and strength show up. He has the length to get into a blocker’s chest quickly, and then has the strength and determination to fight across blocks to make plays.
Similar play here from Ojomo, again taking on the Alabama Crimson Tide.
You can see the suddenness in his hands with the way he’s able to stun the blocker at the point of attack. Once he’s able to win initial control, you can see the motor to fight through the blocker and get in on the run stop. Often on tape, that ability to fight across the blocker’s face showed up.
Despite being slightly undersized for the position, Ojomo is one of the better run defenders I’ve watched this season.
He sinks into his hips well to anchor into place in the run game, and really uses his length well at times to lock out blockers and find the football. This is a great rep here against UTSA of setting the edge. Watch the way he uses his inside arm to lock out the tackle while sinking into his hips, setting a hard edge to turn the running back inside to help.
It won’t show up in the box score, but that’s a strong rep against the run for Ojomo.
Great job her against by Ojomo to split the duo between tackle and tight end, get square to the line of scrimmage and plug the hole.
His ability to create separation between himself and the blocker due to his length is very, very noticeable on tape.
As a pass rusher, Ojomo has a lot of development to do.
The length is very, very intriguing overall, but too often he didn’t use it to his advantage as a pass rusher, and really needs to work on his hand usage as a hand fighter rushing the passer. The ability is there due to his hand usage in the run game, but it’s largely missing as a pass rusher.
The ability is absolutely there though.
With his length (34-inch arms), he has the potential to have an elite-level long arm as a pass rusher.
Just look at the one he hit against Iowa State last season.
That’s a fantastic rep overall and a great display of his length and power.
It’s too few and far between though.
Late in the season against Washington in the bowl game, Ojomo had his best performance as a pass rusher. He showed good hand usage overall and flashed that athleticism.
Check out this rep as a pass rusher.
Great initial stab to the chest with his left hand to knock the Washington guard off balance, and then follows it with a powerful club and rip to get around the guard for the pressure. Really sound rep overall.
He has some speed to his game as a pass rusher at the end of the line, too.
Against UTSA, Ojomo gave the Road Runners fits. He has a good get-off overall and flashed it here rushing off the edge. Not much bend overall, but he was able to rip underneath for the pressure, though he has to do a better job of finishing. You can see the struggle to truly bend the edge, based on the angle he ends up finishing at in the pocket.
Conclusion
There’s a lot to like about Ojomo as a run defender. He has great length and uses it in the run game to stay clean and find the football. He’s able to hold up well inside and really understands leverage against the run. He will be able to make an impact right away at the next level as a run defender, though he’s best suited for an even front where he can slide all over the formation.
As a pass rusher, Ojomo leaves much to be desired, though he showed real improvement down the stretch in that department in 2022. With his length and athleticism, Ojomo should be able to develop into a versatile piece that a defensive coordinator can move all around and search for matchups that favor him in the trenches. He reminds me of a guy like B.J. Hill, who is an impactful run defender, but is still trying to carve out a role in pass-rush situations.
Ojomo will be a solid piece in a defensive line rotation. He’ll be able to stay fresh throughout games and won’t have to do too much early in his career while he continues to develop overall.
Projection: Mid-Late Day 3 (5th-6th Round)
Depot Draft Grade: 6.7 (Backup/Special Teamer)
Games Watched: Alabama (2022), UTSA (2022), Oklahoma (2022), Iowa State (2022), Oklahoma State (2022), Kansas State (2022), Washington (2022)
