Devine

Ozigbo

Ozigbo (5’11/222) operated as a committee back for three seasons before exploding as a 2018 senior for 155/1,082/12 (7.0 YPC) rushing with 23 catches. Per PFF College, Ozigbo gained first downs or scored a touchdown on a Big Ten-high 34% of his 2018 carries. Still snubbed for a Combine invite, Ozigbo shined at his Pro Day with 4.54 speed and explosive vertical (37") and broad (10’4") jumps. A rich man’s C.J. Anderson, Ozigbo combines plus footwork for a big man with all-purpose versatility and a knack for breaking tackles on inside runs. Despite his lack of pre-draft fanfare, Ozigbo offers NFL starter potential.

After a slow build-up to his career, Ozigbo (6'0/223) averaged 7.0 yards per carry on his way to 1,082 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, but that wasn’t enough to receive an NFL Scouting Combine invitation. That means Ozigbo is not a lock to be drafted, but we hope Brugler is correct as he often is. Ozigbo showed that he should have been a combine invitee at his pro day by running in the mid 4.5s and jumping 37 inches on the vertical. With all things considered, a Day 3 pick seems fair.

Rotoworld’s Josh Norris is very sad, as he’s been a favorite of ours despite not receiving an NFL Scouting Combine invite. Brugler calls Ozigbo (6'0/223) a “solid” running back prospect but he’s a few tiers below the top backs in the class. At the Nebraska Pro Day, Ozigbo ran the 40-yard dash in the mid-to-high 4.5s with a 37-inch vertical, so athleticism is not going to be an issue for his NFL projection. Ozigbo’s primary issue is his projected mid-to-late-round draft capital.

Ozigbo (6'0/233) was a snub from the NFL Scouting Combine, but he was able to show out at his pro day, as Crabbs mentions, with a 37-inch vertical and 40-yard dash time of 4.53 (it’s worth noting that we have gotten a wide variety of times there). “Oh yeah, and only one of the names to out-jump Devine in either drill is also over 225 pounds,” writes Crabbs. “Good tape plus good testing = a good player.”

Ozigbo (6'0/222) was one of the bigger NFL Scouting Combine snubs this time around, but he is reportedly still receiving plenty of interest across the NFL. Miller finds Ozigbo’s power and ability to rip off big plays as a nice fit for zone blocking schemes. At Nebraska’s pro day, Ozigbo showed quality burst (37-inch vertical) but was just average in the forty (high 4.5s or low 4.6s). Not getting an invite to the Combine hurts his draft stock, but he is certainly in play early on Day 3. We are cautiously optimistic that Ozigbo can carve out a role in the NFL.

Ozigbo (6'0/222) took part in athletic testing during Nebraska’s pro day on Thursday after failing to receive a (deserved) invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine. He relayed to reporters after his workout that he had been timed in the high 4.5’s/low 4.6’s in his 40-yard dash while registering a 37-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot-4 broad jump. He also showed out nicely on the bench press with 19 reps. Ozigbo is angling for a Day 3 selection in the draft.

We don’t have exact results, unfortunately, but Ozigbo relayed a few numbers after his workout. The 6-foot back said that he measured in at 222 pounds and posted jumps of 37 inches (vertical) and 10-foot-4 (broad) to go with that 40-yard sprint. Also, 19 reps on the bench press. Ozigbo performed well during East-West Shrine Game practices in January, but that fine work did not translate into an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine. Despite his snub, the Huskers product makes for an intriguing late flier for Day 3 or as a priority UDFA.

Ozigbo (6'0/219) is expected to be one of the three dozen or so non-NFL Combine invitees to be drafted this season after being snubbed from an invite. Not getting an invite does really hurt his chances of coming off the board in Day 2, but there’s still enough talent for Ozigbo to scratch and claw his way onto an NFL roster. At Nebraska, Ozigbo had five 20+ yard touchdown runs (explosion) and would have been third in Marginal Efficiency among NFL Combine invitees if he got an invite. The most likely scenario for Ozigbo is a Day 3 selection.

This one counts as a snub in our book, as Ozigbo has intrigue as a Day 3 sleeper. The 6-foot, 219-pounder was a standout performer at the East-West Shrine Game last month, showing out with an array of nice moves and cuts while measuring in considerably more svelte than his listed 2018 weight of 230 pounds. Ozigbo will still have a chance to impress in testing at Nebraska’s pro day on March 7, but he deserved a shot on the national combine stage.

Crabbs notes that Ozigbo showed up measuring in at 219 pounds, a sharp shave off his listed 2018 weight of 230 pounds (Crabbs hears he was playing around 222 pounds during the season). Wrote the analyst, “Ozigbo carries his weight extremely well and showcases a thick lower half, which allows him to generate power in the pile and at first contact.” He relays that after a quiet start in St. Petersburg, Ozigbo has showcased “burst, cuts and receiving chops” during the practice week. The Draft Network views him as the eighth-best running back prospect for the spring.