Recruit Assessment #3: DE Ebenezer Ogundeko

Jan 6, 2013, 11:58 PM

Welcome to Clemson Mr.Ogundeko. Here's one assessment written specially for you!

Hailing from Thomas Jefferson High School in Brooklyn, New York, Ogundeko is big and strong by anyone's standards. At DE he is a run stopper and pass rusher all in one. As an OLB he presents a unique threat that many offenses are unprepared to deal with.

Without further ado, let's break down exactly what Ebenezer Ogundeko brings to the Clemson D.

Strengths:

Speed - And plenty of it! Ogundeko consistently flew past even the most talented OTs at the high school level. His highlight film shows him tracking down speedy QBs and rocket RBs to make the stop. With his speed Ogundeko will most certainly be a pass rushing threat at the next level.

Size - At 6'4" 230 lbs. Ogundeko is quite the impressive figure. He is able to take on big backs on their turf and win. Stops in the backfield against power rushing backs are the norm for Ogundeko, something that will come in handy as a DE at Clemson

Strength - With a reported max bench press of 385 lbs and able to squat 545 lbs. Ogundeko has the strength to take on any OL in college. With his amazing upper body strength Ogundeko is able to keep linemen at arms reach, allowing him to break on the ball carrier at will. His equally impressive lower body power enables him to drive his opponent backward, creating massive holes for hungry LBs. Ogundeko will prosper against above average linemen at the FBS level, and will give an elite tackle more than his money's worth.

Awareness - As soon as the ball is snapped Ogundeko is immediately on his game. He reads the offense well and keeps his head up with his eyes always in the backfield. Combined with his ability to separate from big linemen and his height advantage, Ogundeko's awareness enables him to keep track of every movement in the offensive backfield.

Discipline - Ogundeko plays fundamentally sound football. No doubt about it. He contains on the edge, not allowing for reverses, bootlegs, or any funny business from the opposing offense. Good discipline also alludes to good "coachability." He didn't learn to stay home by just staying home. Ogundeko obviously listened, worked hard, and implemented what his coach taught him. This kind of discipline is sometimes difficult to find in recruits, and will allow Ogundeko to work on other areas of improvement.

Work Ethic - Ogundeko's VOLUNTARY summer work out routine was not just brutal, but was comprised of what amounts to self-inflicted torture! The New York Post reported in an article from Jan. 4, 2013 that Ogundeko "put himself through three-a-days during the summer..." Enough said.

Dual Threat - Not only does Ogundeko pass rush like a machine, but he also is a run-stopping phenom! Draw plays are ill-advised when Ogundeko lines up, since they generally result in either a loss of yardage or a loss of a RB. Ogundeko moves well laterally and always keeps a sharp eye on the action in the backfield. Misdirections, fakes, reverses, you name it and he can stop it with regularity. His discipline keeps him from breaking into an all out sprint to the QB, so he is always in position when the RB comes calling.

Dual Threat - But this time in a different fashion. Not only is Mr. Ogundeko a skilled DE, but he also plays OLB! And it only gets better. Ogundeko plays OLB just as well as he does DE, making him the kind of guy Coach V can stand up anywhere along the line, allowing him to rush from either a two or three point stance, or even to drop into coverage.

Weaknesses:

Pursuit - Ogundeko has shown a tendency to, at times, pursue runners at the wrong angle, forcing him to make up for it by either slowing up, which takes away from tackling ability, or by having to run a foot race. Pursuit angles are something that is often lacking in young defensive players, so look for Venables to work with Ogundeko extensively to get this corrected.

Tackling - While he does make tackle after tackle at the high school level, Ogundeko will need to clean it up at in college. He often must drag down a QB by the jersey or give the RB a second effort to bring him down. Form tackling will be something that Ogundeko will need to work on heavily during what will most likely be his redshirt year.

Pad Height - Ogundeko often will stand up a bit high when either rushing the passer or reading the offense. He is generally able to correct when making the tackle, but he will need to work on staying low after the snap.

My Rating: 4 stars

Ogundeko will make a perfect addition to what is already a long history of great defensive linemen. With his size, strength, speed, and god-given football ability, Ogundeko is a perfect match to the Clemson legacy. Look for Ogundeko to redshirt his freshman year and take some time to correct the little things that will eventually make him a defender that must be gameplanned for. With solid depth already at DE, I'm seeing Ogundeko in his RS Sophomore year getting a shot at a spot to start, but if he can work as hard at Clemson as he has in high school, Ogundeko could challenge for a position a year early. Better keep a close eye on this one; he's a doosie! Oh, and welcome to God's country son. We're happy to have you!

*** Thank you all for the wonderful feedback on these recruiting pieces so far. As always, let me know what you think. All critique is welcome, so long as it is serious critique. Feel free to chat it up and get talking about this kid. After all, he is already confirmed on campus, just the way we like!

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Recruit Assessment #3: DE Ebenezer Ogundeko

Re: Recruit Assessment #3: DE Ebenezer Ogundeko

Re: Recruit Assessment #3: DE Ebenezer Ogundeko

Re: Recruit Assessment #3: DE Ebenezer Ogundeko

Thank You***

being an early enrollee and going through winter,spring and

During his interview, he did say he was looking forward to

so true. with the salaries of todays nfl players and the rule

Can't wait till Big E "Scrooges" some folks !***

It will be interesting to see

i did get the feeling that academics are important to him

TL,DR....

Isn't 230 a little light for DE? Think he will beef up...

Re: Isn't 230 a little light for DE? Think he will beef up...

Knickname: Scrooge.***

Better Yet... "Big O"!***

Ihave really enjoyed these... TU!***

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