Jaguars Draft Profile: Emmanuel Ogbah

Embed from Getty Images

An examination of Oklahoma State defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah and whether or not he is a fit for the Jaguars in the upcoming 2016 NFL Draft.

By Jordan de Lugo

---

PRESENTED BY

---

Who Is This Guy?
Emmanuel Ogbah is a junior defensive end from Oklahoma State University. Originally from Nigeria, Ogbah's family moved to Texas when he was nine years old in search of a better life. Ogbah quickly became a high school sensation with incredible size and athletic ability. In three years at OK State he recorded 26.5 career sacks including 12.5 sacks in 2015. At the NFL Combine Ogbah was truly impressive standing 6'4'' and weighing in at over 270 lbs. with a 35'' reach. Ogbah recorded a blazing 4.6 second 40 yard dash and impressed scouts with eye popping numbers in the broad jump and vertical. 

Strengths
Ogbah checks off in two major areas. He has tremendous athletic ability and size. In addition to his size and athletic ability he also has really good college production, finishing his career with 35.5 tackles for loss, 26.5 sacks, and 5 forced fumbles. His level of competition was high playing in the Big 12. With above average strength and athleticism he is a physical specimen that will certainly be attractive to NFL scouts and coaches. 

Weaknesses 
The guy looks the part, has great athletic ability, and the college production to back up his game... so why is he projected to go in the late first or early second round... surely a defensive end who was a sack monster in college and has incredible athletic ability should be a high first round draft pick... right? Wrong! Ogbah doesn't play with an sense of urgency. On most plays you can't even tell he is on the field. Sure, he flashes once or twice a game, but where is he the rest of the time? He's loafing around and getting stood up at the line. In addition to his highly questionable effort on the field, he is also stiff in his hips and doesn't have the bend that most elite pass rushers possess. Plus his incredible athleticism that he shows in shorts doesn't really translate to the field as he doesn't play with speed or quickness. 

Is He A Fit With The Jags?
There is absolutely no chance that the Jaguars draft Ogbah in the first round and in my opinion they should stay away from him in the second round as well. The Jaguars need a LEO, more commonly known as an edge rusher, and Ogbah isn't really a LEO as he doesn't have the quickness and natural pass rushing ability that is required of the position. The Jaguars could consider Ogbah with the 38th pick in the draft, but if they should choose to do so, he will be a project as he doesn't have natural pass rushing moves and he doesn't play with a high motor on an every down basis. His size, production, and athletic ability would suggest that he should be a great fit on any team, but if I was Dave Caldwell I would look in a different direction. If Ogbah learns how to play with a consistent motor, becomes a more developed pass rusher, and learns how to translate his natural athletic ability to the field, then he could be an effective player in the league, but those are some really big ifs.