Raiders 2019 Draft Prospect: RB Devine Ozigbo

2019 Raiders Draft Prospect Profile

Name: Devine Ozigbo

School: The University of Nebraska

Position: Running Back

Height: 6 feet

Weight: 235 pounds

Round Projection: Day 3

Stats

Run Style

For Ozigbo, he runs exactly the way he looks. With his style, there lies little nuance and trickery. From the moment he receives the handoff, he attempts to immediately run don field. Without hesitation, Ozigbo begins looking for contact. With shoulders square, he meets the tackler and proceeds to churn his legs to move the pile. In all honesty, swarm-tackling Ozigbo is the worst move. He will keep moving among that heap of humanity and gain an extra yard or two.

Agility

Despite his frame, Ozigbo does present shiftiness. One he gets free of the line of scrimmage, he will slide away from the defender and cut downfield. Often, in space, Ozigbo may try to make the first tackler miss

Speed

As mentioned, Ozigbo runs how he looks. As a result, do not expect sprinter speed or home run capabilities. Yet, what he will provide is enough burst to rip off chunk yardage late. Those four-yard carries will become twelve-yard gains in the fourth quarter.

Hands

Unlike many of his draft classmates, Nebraska looked to Ozigbo in the passing game. Granted, he did not use a complex route tree. However, flares, flats, and checkdowns accommodated him just fine. With a smooth snare to secure method, Ozigbo made the catches should and provided Nebraska another option in the passing game.

Awareness

At the next level, a sound running backs coach will show Ozigbo the ability to pick his spots. However, sound coaching will also help Ozigbo with more of a feel in the passing game. While he is adept as a receiver, he will need to expand those route horizons if he is to become an every down back.

Raiders Fit

When Chris Warren III burst onto the scene during camp, the fanbase thought the Raiders had their heir to Marshawn Lynch. After spending the season on IR, Warren looks to return. However, his spot should not affect Ozigbo in the slightest. First, Jon Gruden loves the power running game and the ability to bludgeon opponents. The Raiders could have that hammer in Ozigbo. Next, no one knows if DeAndre Washington or Jalen Richard will return. Under those circumstances, spending a Day 3 pick on a running back feels right. In Ozigbo, the Raiders get a dependable receiving back that lives to truck opponents.