2021 Raiders Draft Prospect: DT Levi Onwuzurike

Raiders Draft Prospect
Name: Levi Onwuzurike
Position: Defensive Tackle
School: The University of Washington
Height:6’3″
Weight: 293 pounds
Stats

Strength-3

Despite his 290-295 pound frame, Onwuzurike displays jarring power in his hands. He stands blockers straight up, before walking them into the backfield. Against larger guards, he shows no hesitation in treating them the exact same way. The heavy-handed tendencies force offensive lineman to counter while retreating.

Agility-3

Onwuzurike brings a quick rise after the snap. Often, he will beat the lineup vertical, giving himself the early edge. Lost in the power aspect is the knack for spinning back into the play. For example, if the ball coasts away, the from Washington DT will disengage with a calculated spin, in order to keep the runner from heading north and south.

Speed-2

Onwuzurike offers a good burst and short-area acceleration, but he won’t make plays backside on in a long pursuit. To his credit, he closes the distance in a straight line.

Tackling-2

While he makes the stops near him, this attribute needs hard coaching. Onwuzurike jolts blockers that outweigh him by 30-50 pounds. How can this translate to stopping the ball? Blesses with explosion, the prospect needs to coil utilize his lower extremities. As a result, those fumble totals should rise.

Run Stopping-3

By knifing in, the prospect bashes the pocket, forcing the running back to alter his cut. Onwuzurike maintains gap integrity without trying to do too much. He will not waste motion on superfluous moves that don’t generate pressure.

Pass Rush-2

Plain and simple, the bull rush remains the prospect’s calling card. When he settles behinds his pads and attacks with the lean, guards drift backward. Nothing about this move says nuance, pure brutality. Now, the downside: Onwuzurike needs to bring more to the table. While the bull does stun opponents, NFL linemen will know how to counter. So, he needs to use those heavy hands to add to the repertoire.

Intangibles-3

Sheer will. Onwuzurike does not stay blocked. Despite the play type, he will fight until the whistle. That level of hustle and determination cannot be quantified. Scouts talk about playing with a nonstop motor. The film shows this prospect remains hellbent on wrecking plays. In modern parlance, Onwuzurike is a ” dawg”. That is to say, tenacious and more than willing to fight in that proverbial phone book.

Raiders Fit

Without any semblance of hesitation, the Las Vegas Raiders need serious interior help. Maurice Hurst flashed earlier in his career, but could never perform at a consistent level. Meanwhile, Maliek Collins offered Vegas absolutely nothing during his stay in the desert. Regardless of who coaches this defensive, all of the action needs to start in the middle of the field. Onwuzurike slides into the three-technique with a blend of explosion and pocket-crushing power. If the Raiders retain Johnathan Hankins, the former Washington Husky slides in nicely, giving the Raiders a duo to build around. While Onwuzurike may not tally double-digit sack numbers at the next level, his immediate disruptive enhances the Raiders on the edge. Quarterbacks will not feel as comfortable climbing the pocket.

Points: 18/28 (Based on a 1-4 scales)