BJ Ojulari (EDGE) – LSU / Junior
6’3” / 244.0 lbs (Unofficial)
2022 Stats: 11 games, 34 solo tackles, 24 assisted tackles, 58 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble
{Reference: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/bj-ojulari-1.html}
Awards:
- No. 18 Award (LSU leadership & high character award) in 2022
Measurables: (AVAILABLE POST COMBINE/PRO DAY)
Games Watched: 2022 @ Auburn; 2022 vs. Alabama
PRO’S
Jamiu Bolaji (“BJ”) Ojulari, younger brother of Azeez, had very consistent production in his three years at LSU, and showed up in big games (including the ‘22 game against Alabama with 11 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, as just one example). As opposed to Azeez who is known more for his extreme bend, BJ’s strength is his power and he nicely converts speed to power in a bull rush. Also like Azeez, BJ is extremely athletic as exemplified by his 42” vertical leap (which is something you’d normally see from extremely athletic – and lighter – CBs or WRs). First step is explosive and key to his game. Doesn’t quite have the elite bend of his brother, but it’s still high-end enough to explode past the protection and towards the QB. BJ is a high-motor player and you never see him give up on plays, and he does have a nice pass rushing tool kit including bull-rush, spin, and rip.
BJ is also a sideline-to-sideline player who tracks down RBs and QBs, and he’s also good at setting the edge. Additional value is that he’s a good contributor on Special Teams. Also a very high character individual as exemplified in his receiving the “No. 18” Award in 2022, which is a leadership and high character award given by LSU to one of its players each year.
CON’S
Like his brother and most draft eligible Edges, BJ will probably need to add weight in the NFL to truly reach his potential, but which could possibly (as happens sometimes) negatively affect his game in different ways such as diminishing speed or leading to soft tissue or cartilage injuries. Additional strength could also help him in disengaging from run blocking offensive linemen. He does over pursue a little to noticeably in run support and pass rush. One concern of mine is that while his NCAA production was consistently good, that production did not increase on a trajectory which makes me wonder if we’ve seen his ceiling.
OVERALL
I believe that overall BJ Ojulari is very similar to Azeez (when he came out of college) in their athleticism, potential, and character but also in areas for improvement. Ojulari already has a lot of tools, athleticism, and potential where I see him as an early-to-mid 2nd round pick (where Azeez was also drafted), which is where I have him pegged as of this writing, but I think it’s also realistic that he could go back-end of the 1st round.
Completed by: @JoeJ_Clark, 01/22/23
