2019 Season Countdown: #71 David Ojabo

Name: David Ojabo
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 252 lbs.
High school: Blairstown (NJ) Blair Academy
Position: Defensive end
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #71
Last year: Ojabo was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 33 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, and 1 forced fumble.
TTB Rating: 85

If you thought the recruitment of Julius Welschof in 2018 was a little bit odd, Michigan took it up a notch with Ojabo. Ojabo was born in 2000 in Nigeria. Not weird enough? Okay, he moved to Scotland in 2007. Not weird enough yet? Okay, then he moved to New Jersey. Crazy!

Now he’s moved to the New Jersey of the West, a.k.a. Ann Arbor.

Ojabo signed in December and enrolled at Michigan in January. He finished the recruiting cycle as a 4-star, the #19 strongside end, and #314 overall. A very difficult player to project, he didn’t play football until his junior year of high school (much like yesterday’s profiled guy, Taylor Upshaw) and not much film exists.

Based on the little film that exists, he almost reminds me of Jevon Kearse. Ojabo is freakishly fast and long-armed, but he has no idea how to play the game of football. Ojabo could play anywhere on the defensive line – from weakside end to nose tackle – depending on how his body develops. I love bib guys with freak athleticism, and the blank slate nature of his game suggests that while he may have a lot to learn, he’s likely willing to learn it, which is a big part of success. I expect big things from Ojabo down the road, but this year is going to be a tough transition time.

Prediction: Redshirt

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