LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (or J.O.K.) is one of my favorite prospects in the entire 2021 NFL Draft. While some analysts worry that he doesn’t have a true position, I actually view this as a positive. In today’s NFL, coaches should know better than to try to fit a square peg in a round hole. Owusu-Koramoah may be a bit on the light side for a linebacker at 221 pounds, but his fluidity and coverage ability are some of the best I have seen from a player his size.
At 6’1 1/2” with 33” arms, J.O.K. still has plenty of length for the position and his sideline-to-sideline range is excellent. Despite his thin frame, he is still fearless coming downhill and putting a beating on the ball carrier. What sets him apart from the other linebackers in this class, however, is his impressive ability to lock down running backs and tight ends in coverage. He’s even athletic enough to cover receivers from the slot.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is a prototype player for today’s NFL. He’s a guy that can play in base, nickel, or dime, and should never come off the field. Keith Butler could certainly find some creative ways to use him, and while Pittsburgh might like a bigger linebacker next to Devin Bush, J.O.K. is one of the most versatile defenders we have seen in years. He may not even be on the board when the Steelers are on the clock at pick 24.
Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert have made many stops so far this offseason, but their history with Notre Dame players is undeniable and there are plenty of reasons to believe that some of these prospects will be high on their radar on draft day. Everyone should add these three names to their watch list early in the 2021 NFL Draft.