Top 10 linebackers in the 2021 NFL Draft:

#2 NFL Draft Prospect: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (Notre Dame)

6’ 1”, 215 pounds; RS JR

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, the former three-star safety recruit, didn’t get off to a great start in his collegiate career. He spent his first year on the practice squad and then missed all but two games of his debut campaign because of a broken foot.

Since then, he has been one of the most versatile and dynamic playmakers on the defensive side of the ball for the Fighting Irish. In 25 games in the last two seasons, he has combined for 162 total tackles, with 96 of them solo and 24.5 for loss, seven sacks, seven PBUs, an interception, five fumbles forced and four more recovered.

He took one back to the house against Clemson in their first meeting last season. For that, he earned the triple-crown of ACC Defensive Player of the Year, unanimous All-American and the Butkus award for the top linebacker in the country.

The guy, who is often referred to as JOK, presents a slim build with more of a safety skillset, but he is freakishly athletic. He played that ROVER spot or field-side OLB for the Irish, who depending on the formation set, would basically be a big nickel or stack over the guard when the offense put the formation into the boundary.

Owusu-Koramoah routinely flashed on tape when I watched the Notre Dame edge rushers and safeties for the 2020 NFL Draft. This guy can run, and he is a true joker for this Notre Dame defense.

He shows up around the ball constantly, and even though his frame wouldn’t suggest it, he is an incredible run-defender. He has a fabulous rapid shuffle, as he works laterally., But he is also not afraid to shoot the gap and take great angles towards the sideline against outside stuff.

JOK has the quickness to side step and almost jump-cut around linemen working up to him at times. He is also dynamic in going underneath a blocker, trying to cut him off by dipping under without losing speed to work horizontally.

He has the speed to shuffle a couple of steps with the run and still chase down the receiver, catching the ball on an RPO bubble on the backside if his opponent makes one cut-back inside. If somebody tries to put their hands on him, he can fight through the reach.

In the pass game, JOK is loose in pedaling backwards in zone coverage. He is actually pretty physical, dropping out and knocking receivers off balance as they try to cut underneath him. He has the speed to carry not just tight-ends but some of the fastest receivers down the middle of the field. That ability to get back in the picture and knock the ball down is incredible.

Quarterbacks looking to hit seam routes his way often check down quite a bit because of the way JOK can carry vertically. The athletic phenom had one rep against Boston College in 2020, where he turned and ran with their fastest receiver on a slot fade.

Even though the ball was slightly underthrown, the closing burst to get a hand on it was mesmerizing. Teams can forget about throwing any flat or leak-out routes to their tight-end when JOK is in man-coverage.

There are plays where a slot receiver may have leverage on an out-route, but Owusu-Koramoah shoots back into perfect position as they break towards the sideline or go through the recipient on slants. When receivers reach for the ball, he consistently rakes through their hands to knock it out.

Because he played a big part with the Irish as their flat or hash defender, JOK has a super-quick trigger against screen passes, and his quickness allows him to get around bodies with ease to make big hits in the backfield. This guy is like a blur as a blitzer and can make an impact even when coming off the slot, where he has a lot of room to get around the back. So the time to throw the ball is very limited if teams don’t have a plan for him in their protection scheme.

JOK's lack of size doesn’t come without any negatives, though. When bigger bodies get into his frame, JOK has a tough time getting away from them, and I’ve even seen him get shielded by slot receivers on too many occasions.

USC’s Amon-Ra St. Brown comes to mind, who should not be able to hold up any linebacker for too long, considering his slender frame. Owusu-Koramoah leaves his feet a little too much as a tackler and had ten misses in each of his last two years.

One can argue that his role at Notre Dame doesn’t get valued as highly in the pros because nickel corners get drafted on day three every year. And in certain schemes, where he is not 'protected' by the D-line, allowing big bodies to directly climb up to him could give him trouble. Yet, if he adds some mass to his frame, that could impact his movement, which is the most intriguing thing about him.

However, if used correctly to maximize his strengths, JOK could be a special player at the next level.

If teams put him at WILL with a lot Under fronts in a 4-3, for example, they could make him their dime backer on passing downs, where he could sink deep over the middle if there is a threat way. Moreover, teams can also utilize him as a blitzer from different angles.

JOK could be the Defensive Rookie of the Year and a Pro Bowl player for many years. However, if teams ask him to take on blocks as a box-defender and not use his movement in space accordingly, they may not realize his optimum potential.