Levi Onwuzurike was a 4 star recruit coming out of high school in Allen, Texas. Following a few years in the pacific northwest playing for the Washington Huskies, it’s easy to say that he exceeded expectations.
We’re looking at a potential first round pick here. The Student Union Sports Big Board even has him a little low to me. He measured in at nearly 6’3″ and 290 pounds at the Senior Bowl, where he was a stand out. Following the Senior Bowl, Levi Onwuzurike could be found in the first round of most mock drafts, but you’ll most likely find him in the second round now.
Strengths:
When looking at an interior defensive linemen, a major key is athleticism. Onwuzurike has enough to be a really good NFL player. He has a strong first step, solid flexibility and a solid ability to move off the ball. Along with that, he has good hands that can help create a bull rush to collapse any running lanes or counter against a guard’s first punch. He isn’t great rushing the passer yet, but he has the potential. He might be a 3-down player if the pass rushing improves.
Weaknesses:
While a really solid prospect, Levi Onwuzurike’s pass rush needs some work. He only had seven career sacks in 34 games. He can struggle against quality interior linemen and doesn’t have a ton of moves. If he gets outmatched in strength, he might not create much pressure. This is where a lot of the flaws pop out in his evaluation.
Favorite Play:
Here’s an excellent example of Onwuzurike’s athleticism and prowess against the run
Projection:
Best Case: High level starting defensive tackle that adds some pass rushing ability to his game in order to be effective on all three downs
Worst Case: Space eater that can’t stay on the field for third, maybe even second down
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