'Trajectory Up!' Ravens' David Ojabo Poised for Year 2 Jump
In a moment, it was all gone. One second, outside linebacker David Ojabo was viewed as a sure-fire first-round pick. Next, he faced career uncertainty and a long road to recovery.
That's the reality of Ojabo's torn Achilles, suffered during his pro day at Michigan just over a month before the 2022 NFL Draft. The depths of the injury weren't fully shown until draft weekend when he fell to the Baltimore Ravens at pick No. 45 in the middle of the second round.
Months of recovery led Ojabo to play in only two games and 21 defensive snaps as a rookie, headlined by a strip-sack on Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow in Week 18.
And while it was merely a salivating taste for the Ravens' coaching staff, the opportunity for Ojabo to get his feet wet could prove valuable this season, especially as his relationship with defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald continues to grow.
Ojabo and Macdonald paired together at Michigan in 2021, when the former had a stellar junior season and the latter established himself as one of the brighter young coaching minds.
Now set for Year 2 in Baltimore, there's plenty of optimism surrounding Ojabo's growth under Macdonald ... especially considering they've already proven to be a successful combination - spearheaded by Macdonald's vision to get Ojabo more reps as an on-ball outside linebacker.
"When we first got (to Michigan), we just wanted a quick sample of who was on the roster and what they could do," Macdonald said. "(Ojabo) hadn't played up until when we showed up, and we saw this big, tall guy that runs like a 4.4 - we're like, 'Why is he not rushing the passer?' So, it was a pretty easy decision to make."
The result was Ojabo earning first-team All-Big Ten and second-team All-American honors after logging 12 tackles for loss and 11 sacks in his first season of extended action.
Naturally, with Macdonald making the same trek from Ann Arbor to Baltimore, there's been quite a bit of carryover in the words and system for Ojabo, giving him an added benefit and helping ease the learning curve despite the limited rookie action.
As for Ojabo, he's stressed that the injury is behind him and he's "110 percent" healed and ready to go this fall; he feels better and more explosive, and Macdonald thinks he's physically stronger.
The next step is putting that on the field, which he'll look to do alongside another young, ascending pass rusher in Odafe Oweh; the two went to high school together and lived in the same dorm at Blair Academy in New Jersey and saw each other in the Big Ten when Michigan faced Penn State.
Ojabo said he and Oweh have a "brotherhood," something that makes him feel at home and comfortable in his surroundings - and Oweh's eager to see the relationship expand onto the gridiron this fall.
"I'm just so excited for him to really show everybody who he really is as a player (and) as a person," Oweh said. "We were working together in the offseason and you could just tell he was motivated. He was energized to prove something, not just to everyone else, but to himself.
"So, I'm really excited for what he can show."
The same optimism is shared by Macdonald, who raved about Ojabo's character while expressing confidence in his willingness to work and get better, leaving the coach confident in what's to come.
"I remember just a lot of enthusiasm and energy and positivity, and I think he really, really wants to be good," Macdonald said. "And so, when you have that and you have that mentality and you have that attitude, that's something that he's brought here, and it's exciting to work with a guy like that. So, I think you've seen his trajectory up to this point, and hopefully, he'll continue."
The offseason after the conclusion of one's rookie season is often viewed as the time in which they'll make the biggest jump, as it's the first true break for players since the summer before their final college season, with the pre-draft process and acclimating to the NFL lifestyle occupying much of the following offseason.
And while Ojabo didn't have a traditional rookie year, both he and those around him feel he's more than capable of taking a big step forward this season and sending a message to the rest of the league: true, he's not the same guy he was before the Achilles injury ... he's even better.
"I'm just ready to put on a show," Ojabo said.
You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter at @DFlickDraft
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