This piece is part of a project where Jason and Caleb analyze the top eight Ducks prospects for the 2015 NFL Draft. The prospects will be listed in the reverse order in which they are projected to be drafted. Enjoy.
Previous Article: No. 5 Hroniss Grasu
No. 4: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu
Position: Cornerback
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 192
Overview: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu made a bold decision in 2013, opting not to enter the NFL Draft and instead return for his senior season. Ekpre-Olomu was projected to be anywhere from a first to third round pick, something not many guys pass up. He returned because he felt he could do more and, in some regards, he was right. Ekpre-Olomu finished second on the team in pass breakups and interceptions, while recording 63 tackles and a forced fumble. He even was a Jim Thorpe Award Finalist as one of the top defensive backs in the country. To some, though, 2014 was a disappointing campaign for the All-American. Ekpre-Olomu saw a statistical decrease in almost every major category, and in a pre-Rose Bowl practice he suffered a season-ending knee injury, ultimately ending his senior campaign and plummeting his draft stock.
Ifo has the athleticism and football IQ to be one of the best at his position, but his injury is very serious. He’ll have to prove to scouts that it will be a non-factor moving forward, and that he actually is worth the risk. Ekpre-Olomu possesses above average explosiveness and athleticism and, with the ever increasing need for cornerbacks as pro receivers continue to improve, Ekpre-Olomu could become quite the commodity.
Strengths: Ekpre-Olomu is strong in many facets of his game, but he’s specifically strong when adjusting to a route. He had some of the quickest feet and hips in all of CFB last season and, consequently, opposing receivers struggled mightily against Ekpre-Olomu. His football IQ is off the charts, and he’s able to recognize routes before receivers even finish running them. He’s also a strong tackler despite his size, at times using amazing aggression to secure tackles.
On top of all that, Ekpre-Olomu has some of the best ball skills of any defensive player in the draft. He has a knack for knowing where to be, and he often makes big plays when his team needs him the most. Sometimes his desire to make a big play can catch him out of position but, for the most part, Ekpre-Olomu is a very well rounded CB.
Weaknesses: Size is seemingly always an issue with Oregon players, and Ekpre-Olomu is no exception. It’s not as though he’s particularly undersized for his position but, with the average height of an NFL receiver being 6’2″, Ekpre-Olomu will soon learn just how much those extra five inches matter. Ekpre-Olomu was taught and implements the trail technique in coverage, using his elite athleticism to make a play on the ball once it’s in the air. That method, although effective in the NFL, will be hard to utilize with his size. Also, Ekpre-Olomu sometimes tries an unnecessarily difficult angle or even misses tackles because of using improper form. If Ekpre-Olomu can nail down his consistency, he will be a force to be reckoned with at the next level.
Final Comments
Jason Selby: “Ifo is arguably one of the best defensive backs in Oregon Ducks history. There is a reason why he was so highly touted before hurting his knee, despite his size. Ifo has everything a GM is looking for: raw talent, a high football IQ, and a strong will to succeed. It will be difficult for most to look past the injury he suffered before the Rose Bowl, but it was almost five months ago and he is making incredible progress. Ifo will succeed at the next level, and you should definitely be there to watch it happen.”
Caleb Couturie: “Ignoring how fun his name is to say, Ekpre-Olomu is unquestionably one of the top talents in the draft. His injury will cause his name to be called later than it would have been called otherwise, but that only means some team will get a steal in the third or fourth round. Ifo is an above average athlete with great closing ability and elite ball skills. The flaws that he has are all fixable, too, and after a year under pro coaches Ifo should see immediate success.”
Draft Projection: Third or Fourth Round
Top Photo by Kevin Cline
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Caleb and Jason worked a large joint project involving articles spaced over 10 days in spring of 2015, thus we wish to recognize both as authors of the articles.
Jason Selby is a junior at the University of Oregon, currently double majoring in Public Relations and Political Science. Jason has been an avid sports fan for his entire life, growing up playing Football, Basketball, and Baseball.
Caleb Couturie is a freshman at the University of Oregon intending to double major in Journalism and Sports Management. A lifetime Saints and San Francisco Giants fan, Caleb fell in love with sports at a young age and developed that love into a passion for sports analysis.