B.J OJULARI 2021 PROFILE

by LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN

@LonnPhillips

2020

8 apps:

16 TOTAL TACKLES

-12 SOLO

4 SACKS

5.5 TFL

1 PD

1 FF (vs Mizzou)

1 FR (vs Florida)

-3 QB HURRIES

-18 PRESSURES

After he produced a stunning "sack trick" against South Carolina's Collin Hill, 2020 LSU freshman DE B.J Ojulari saw his stock skyrocket...his name was everywhere, all over the SEC and national headlines as college football's next premier sack king.

LSU's imperious pass rusher was also named SEC defensive lineman of the week while Pro Football Focus College's statistical analysis went to town on his hair-raising production.

Even before his 3 sack outburst, Ojulari was rated as the highest graded freshman of Week 1 with an 87.7 score; this score followed his debut against Miss St, a game in which the Georgia-native's pass rushing became a visceral siege, despite failing to register a sack (due to limited reps).

Last year, LSU Odyssey was lucky enough to speak with Ojulari on the record twice, one following that historic game vs South Carolina; Even before he stepped foot on the blood-built field of Death Valley, there was still a large amount of anticipation for the behemoth DE when I prepared for our first chat in September.

Many LSU fans were expecting Ojulari to contribute, but few believed he'd already possess the tools to produce 4 sacks in 8 games with limited action on the field.

This very author was one of a few people who were high on Ojulari, higher than a "Clinton-era Downey Jr breakfast": LSU Odyssey predicted 9.5 sacks for the freshman for 2020's originally planned 12-13 game schedule.

Obviously, we were wrong, although I wonder where his output would've ranked had he played more reps... or if LSU had played a 13 game season. Ojulari's actual output closely resembles our prediction on a game to game average.

Later on during last season's madness down the rabbit hole...adventures in slow-motion anguish, Ojulari watched as senior Andre Anthony took the bulk of LSU's weak side DE snaps, and the freshman's production lowered accordingly.

Regardless, when he received reps, the juggernaut athlete always looked a move or an inch away from grabbing a sack, frequently a step ahead of the hapless / helpless offensive linemen in his path; When he didn't get to the quarterback, B.J still created havoc...if LSU's defensive end titan couldn't enter the backfield, Ojulari made sure to occupy a double or even triple team.

All in all, B.J enjoyed a masterful debut campaign, displaying routine stunning moves, expert manipulation of leverage coupled with an enigmatic football IQ...he also holds the distinction of being the only Tiger who was yelled at by Bo Pelini all season.

Mirroring Tom Berenger's defiant "I am reality" sequence from Oliver Stone's Platoon, you can count on Pelini to lose his shit at one of his best defenders...a freshman no less....5 games into the season....a scene which clearly pissed off Ojulari's teammates, including Joseph Evans...Pelini lost in his Captain Ahab daydreams.

Over the course of his first SEC campaign, the Marietta man made a couple mistakes, sure, but as far as freshmen go in the trenches, B.J was an undisputed badass throughout 2020.....

Now under the guidance of DL Coach Andre Carter, a soon-to-be NFL Hall of Fame DE with 80 sacks to his name during a 13 year career, Ojulari's talents are about to be violently unleashed upon an unsuspecting, conference alignment-gazing SEC.

Carter also has 15 years of NFL coaching experience, coming into Baton Rouge on fire, scanning the room at his outrageous D-Line options and knowing exactly how he can maximize each lineman.

If Carter can develop any Tiger to reach their ultimate potential, it will be LSU's edge rushers who'll benefit most.....Ojulari at the top of that distinguished list.

Yes, the second year DE will contend with super senior returner Andre Anthony for the weak side starting position, & while the younger, now experienced B.J should be the favorite on paper, you have to remember that Andre Anthony was LSU's leading sacker last year (5.5), as well as remaining a longtime Coach O favorite.

Regardless of politics, Carter has actually experimented by deploying both Anthony and Ojulari on the field simultaneously: kicking the bulkier Anthony inside while the Georgia-native rushes off his right shoulder.

Thanks to Coach Carter's incredibly versatile and domineering D-Line, featuring athletic specimen of all ages (Ali Gaye, Jaquelin Roy, Maason Smith, Saivion Jones), backed by experienced veterans (Neil Farrell, Glen Logan, Anthony) and hungry contributors who could be vying for serious playing time (Joseph Evans, Landon Jackson, Bryce Langston or Jacobian Gullory), Ojulari will be competing against the best for starting reps.

On the other hand, LSU's superb interior pass rush should free the Tigers' edge rushers and vice versa........Carter's 2021 D-Line could be a tyrannical masterpiece of quarterback hospitalization, mowing down everyone in their path.

Perhaps our overzealous 2020 prediction of 9.5 sacks is more attributable to Ojulari's more seasoned second year?

Of course, Coach O will drop his name alongside all the other DL, however Orgeron has laid off the extreme pronouncements which became the doom-ridden hallmark of last off-season.

Last spring, Orgeron called Ojulari "LSU's best pass rusher", and while Coach O's evaluation wasn't far off at all, he's trying to avoid adding extra pressure on the Nigerian Prince.

While some sources on staff have claimed 2021 will be "the year of Andre Anthony" off the edge, I feel many LSU Tiger fans are forgetting Ojulari....

....maybe that's how he would rather approach his second year....from a stage where nobody is seeing it coming.

3 sacks vs South Carolina ranks 2nd on LSU's all time single game list, and yet I have the sense Ojulari wasn't even fully unleashed within Pelini's "Kardashian defense".

I understand our current set-up will use a rotation at defensive line, which I fully support; However, if B.J begins to find his groove, you'd be insane to take him out.

Straight up, B.J Ojulari is one of the most athletically gifted pass rushers I've seen at LSU, showcasing a supernatural ability to bend his hulking body around blockers, possessing top gun speed, calculating brutality, and violent hands....he's also an active threat on stunts, displays a nasty swim move as well as a freakish duck & dip, folding his body until his size & speed allow him to brush by.

The Tigers' #8 is a truly unique player who should continue his high octane growth at the defensive end position in 2021. Regardless of the fact that he may be forced to the second string behind Andre Anthony, Ojulari holds the true key to the starting spot:

Can he overtake Anthony for LSU's starting weak side DE?

PROJECTION: I feel he will split time with Anthony, but the two will have the spot on lockdown. Ojulari will be fluctuating between starter and 2nd string, yet he may just lead this unit in sacks.

39 Tackles (30 Solo)

9.5 Sacks

13 TFLs

3 PD

2 FF

1 FR

by LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN

@LonnPhillips

Copyright 2021 Uninterrupted Writings Inc

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