New York Giants Draft Preview: DL Ruke Orhorhoro

How would Ruke Orhorhoro fit in with the New York Giants defensive line depth?

Clemson defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro / Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports

Ruke Orhorhoro, DL

Height: 6’4
Weight: 294 lbs.
Class: Super Senior
School: Clemson 
STATS

MEASUREMENTS

Arm length: 34”
Wingspan: 77 ⅜””
Hands: 9 ⅜”
40-yard-dash: 4.89
10-yard split: 1.67
Vertical jump: 32”
Broad jump: 9’8”
Bench press: 29 reps

A former three-star recruit out of River Rouge High School in River Rouge, Michigan, where he was the 15th recruit from his state and the 46th strong-side defensive end in the 2019 recruiting cycle. Orhorhoro was born in Nigeria and came to the United States when he was nine. He did not play football until 2017 when he quickly received offers from both Michigan and Michigan State. Here are his college statistics:

Orhorhoro tore his MCL in 2020 and missed eight games after surgery. He also had off-season shoulder surgery before the 2023 college season. Earned Third-Team All-ACC honors in 2023. Clemson had a historically good defensive line room over the last half-decade. He played 1,399 defensive snaps since the start of the 2021 season, with 73 pressures in his entire collegiate career. 

Strengths 

• Long limbs - strong punch with strength in separating
• Good thickness throughout his body
• Explosive closing burst
• Can bend well for an interior defensive lineman 
• Exceptional ability to keep his hips low when stacking & reading 
• Gets push into contact - heavy hands to shock
• Rough house pass rusher - controls chest with force
• Strong outside hands as pass rusher - aiming points to break contact 
• Creates space from LOS with swim move to provide angle into pocket
• Good club + lateral agility to win 1v1
• Flashed prompt and precise hand usage
• Displayed ability to effectively counter
• Active hands when exchanging gaps
• Very good and disruptive on stunts/twists
• Stays square to the LOS - good feet through trash
• Very good run defender - locks out with low hips and long arms
• Can dip around - stay low - and avoid punches
• Good positioning when using LAG technique 
• Sets edge well as 5T
• Serious combination of balance & upper-body strength
• Can play a gap-and-a-half as run defender - helps win the math advantage
• Showed exceptional leverage at the line of scrimmage vs. the run
• Eyes on the ballcarrier at LOS
• A lot of flashes and tools - a lot to work with for a coach
• Can align across the line of scrimmage
• Reported vocal leader 

[View more draft prospect scouting profiles.]

Weaknesses

• Pad level can rise when he’s mobile
• Pad level can rise when using finesse moves as a pass rusher 
• A lot of flashes but needs consistency 
• Can counter but doesn’t always employ it
• Had knee (2020) and shoulder (2023) surgeries in college.

Summary

Ruke Orhorhoro flashes brilliant hand usage and technique to counter and separate from blockers. These flashes, combined with his lack of football experience, make him a moldable and coachable defensive line asset with incredible length and denseness throughout his body. He has a remarkable ability to engage as a run defender while keeping his hips low and locking out OL at the point of attack.  

The idea of Orhorhoro under the tutelage of Andre Patterson, next to former Clemson Tiger Dexter Lawrence, is enticing for both parties involved. Clemson used a lot of twists and gap exchanges to disrupt rushing lanes and create four-man pressure. Orhorhoro operated well in that scheme, similar to the scheme employed by current Giants’ defensive coordinator Shane Bowen. Overall, Orhorhoro has a solid floor and immense upside, and he could be a very valuable selection for a team somewhere on day two. 

GRADE: 6.28

Nick Falato's Draft Grade Chart / Nick Falato

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