After all the smoke and all the rumors, Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah went where most draft analysts thought he would. There wasn’t drama like some began to think as the Detroit Lions stayed at the No. 3 position and got themselves the best defensive back prospect in this year’s draft.
As a junior in 2019, Okudah becomes the fifth Buckeye cornerback to be a first-round NFL Draft pick in the last five years. As a junior last year, he became the first corner in program history to earn unanimous All-America honors. He also was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, which honors the nation’s top defensive back.
A five-star coming out of high school, Okudah has been locking up the opponent’s best receiver since before he could drive. Now, he’ll take his game to yet another level.
What makes him so special though?
Well, his instincts do. Okudah, who stands 6-foot, 1 inch, allowed just 45 of the 106 passes that came into his territory to be completed, according to Pro Football Focus. They also note that he didn’t allow over 50 receiving yards in a single game.
Playing teams like Clemson, Michigan, Wisconsin and Penn State, Okudah locked up some of the nation’s best receivers. His speed combined with his lateral quickness and unmatched agility makes hanging with speedsters easy. Part of that is because of his footwork and technique.
His size and length then helps him defend against other receivers in man-to-man coverage. He’s everything a defensive coordinator wants in a defensive back, and he showed it at the collegiate level.
Detroit just got a good one, and he should jump right in and make an immediate impact as one of the best rookies in the league.
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