Washington Huskies football: Mock Draft Consensus on Levi Onwuzurike and Joe Tryon 1.0
Levi Onwuzurike – Defensive Tackle, 6-3, 295 pounds
- Highest Draft Spot – Round 1, Jacksonville, 25th overall.
- Lowest Draft Spot – Round 3, Detroit, 89th overall.
- Most Common Draft Spot – Round 1, Tampa Bay, 32nd overall.
Some scouts love Levi Onwuzurike, and some don’t. A physically gifted athlete with great physical skill, he is somewhat of an enigma. Sitting out the 2020 season didn’t help answer any questions about his ability. But he held up well at Senior Bowl Week in January.
Explosive is a word used often in scouting reports to describe him. Onwuzurike fills the A (center-guard) and B (guard-tackle) gaps well to stop run plays. A big part of the reason is his explosive power off the snap. That allows him to generate enough power to drive his man and reach the backfield.
Onwuzurike’s strength and agility allowed him to make some eye-popping plays. Ones that got fans at Husky Stadium out of their seats. He played primarily inside at Washington, but it wasn’t unusual for him to pop outside the tackle to make a stop. That doesn’t mean he’s a pass-rushing forcing from inside like Aaron Donald. But he is more than formidable stopping the run.
While Onwuzurike has come a long way since his days at Allen, TX, he is far from a finished product. Onwuzurike has to improve on his technique. Every player in the NFL is physically gifted. Additionally, he has to become more consistent to become an impact player.
Prospects 1.0
Most mock drafts have Onwuzurike going in the second round. Number 32 overall (Round 1) to Tampa is a good landing spot for the interior lineman.
Onwuzurike has an impressive amount of explosion for a defensive lineman, and he’s also long and rangy. His initial burst allows him to get positive positioning against offensive linemen, and his arm length allows him to keep himself clean when he uses it correctly. Onwuzurike also has good leg drive through pass rushing reps, and if his anchor is established, he can drive guys back. – Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network.