As the NFL season winds down, FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL draft scouting reports before the combine in March. Here’s a look at Olusegun Oluwatimi.
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2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Olusegun Oluwatimi (OC – Michigan)
Olusegun Oluwatimi (OC – Michigan)
6’3″ – 307 lbs.
Background
Originally enrolled at the Air Force Academy in 2017, then attended the University of Virginia from 2018-2021, where he started for the last three seasons of his tenure, all but one game coming at center (an appearance at right guard in 2019) before transferring to Michigan, manning the pivot there this past year and winning both the Outland and Rimington awards.
Positives
Highly decorated four-year starter for two major programs; played in a more balanced, slightly zone-heavy scheme at Virginia and then successfully transitioned to Michigan’s heavily gap-based offense. Has adequate size and impressive bulk for a pro pivot with a barrel chest. Plays with toughness and shows impressive functional strength for the pivot. Light on his feet for a big man and was asked to execute some pull blocks, typically cracking backside pursuers on the left side of the offense. Shows a good understanding of positioning. Active with his feet to drive opponents off of spots in a phone booth. Has adequate width to his base in pass protection, with above-average lateral quickness to mirror. Shows good awareness to identify his responsibilities. Does a nice job with hand placement and resets effectively. Keeps his head on a swivel and uses a powerful shove to knock opponents off-balance as the help man. Made it through this past season without allowing a sack.
Negatives
Spent six years in school and will be a 24-year-old rookie. Relatively penalty-prone for a center, having been flagged 24 times over the course of his career (six this past season). Minor balance issues crop up from time to time when working in space. Has small hands for the position, which can undermine grip strength at times. Anchor can occasionally drop a little later than you’d want, with knee-bend that looks closer to average. Has virtually no in-game experience at any position other than center.
Summary
A tough, smart, and thickly-built center with four years of starting experience, including a senior year in which he won college football’s most prestigious awards for centers (Rimington) and interior linemen (Outland), he has the look of a starting-caliber pivot in a gap-based scheme, using his power to win in a phone booth and his quickness to execute pull-blocks. Will likely fall behind a few of the other centers in the class who have more impressive physical/athletic tools but should still come off the board relatively early as a safe, experienced choice.
Projection: Round 4
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