Levi Onwuzurike

Levi Onwuzurike is a short and stout explosive athlete with great technique – that combines for an Aaron Donald type of playmaker. Obviously he doesn’t quite have Donald’s burst and strength, but he has a similar game in a lot of ways. Onwuzurike has a good burst off the line, routinely getting a step on opposing linemen. In addition, he has active hands at the point of contact, not allowing linemen to get their hands inside of him. His burst combined with active hands allow Onwuzurike to get penetration and split gaps to get in the backfield. Does a great job swimming his arms over linemen and using leverage to pry himself past. Despite his weight, Onwuzurike can bull rush with a high success rate because of his explosiveness and leverage. In the run game, he can hold gap responsibility – utilizing his hands and good center of balance to shed linemen to the side. His lack of weight has its limitations in double teams, having troubles holding ground for too long. Although I did see game of him exclusively playing 1 technique over the center for entire games and he held his own at times. His production wasn’t great on paper, he was asked to play a bunch of different techniques and responsibilities across the line, sometime outside of his strength or comfort zone which may have hindered his statistical production. 

Onwuzurike will have some of the same critiques that Donald had coming out and it will drop his draft stock. In a 4-3 as a 3 technique he can really flourish in a productivity terms by getting penetration and creating havoc. Although he is versatile and could play as a 5 technique in a 3-4 or move across all the positions depending on the down and distance. He has top tier technique and explosiveness, lacks a bit in size and production which prevents him from being a top 15 pick – but worthy of a late 1st to early 2nd round pick.