Edefuan Ulofoshio, LB, Washington (Senior)
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Rayane M
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Strengths :
- Promising Reads*
- Solid Run stopper
- Decent Blitz
- Promising Man-to-Man Coverage
- Good Pursuit
- Plays with good pad level
Weaknesses :
- *Needs to work on reads
- Lacks power
- Lacks Speed and Explosiveness
- Poor Zone Coverage
- Tackling Technique
- Age
LB Edefuan Ulofoshio
— Rayane M (@RayaneScout) March 31, 2024
As an older prospect, Ulofoshio is likely to slip in the draft, but he could prove a nice rotational option for a defense looking for depth at the position. With some work he could even prove to be a solid starter after a few years
4th Rnd Value⚒️ pic.twitter.com/hRdby2hVBk
TTProfil
If Edefuan is capable of showing some nice flashes in man-to-man coverage situations, it's not necessarily his strongest suit. His standout quality lies in run stopping. Indeed, he sometimes shows very promising signs in run defense, although he's still somewhat inconsistent in my opinion. What I like about him is his ability to shed blocks; he can create separation with a strong punch or simply evade the block with agility. This versatility in his play style is a strong point because he'll likely face different types of opponents once in the pros, and being able to adjust his game according to the opposition is a valuable asset.
Finally, I've observed that Ulofoshio is quite an intriguing player in blitz situations, especially when he fully commits to them. However, unfortunately, Edefuan has shown that he can sometimes lack explosiveness. Therefore, if he doesn't give his all when blitzing, he can quickly become ineffective. It remains to be seen whether his ability to blitz effectively will translate to the NFL.
I also noticed a slight lack of power that will need to be addressed during his transition to the pros. Ulofoshio is sometimes moved quite easily by the opposing offensive line to the extent that, to be honest, upon studying the tapes, I even thought that Edefuan was an undersized player, when in fact he is completely average in size for his position. Between this point and the previous one, it becomes clearer why Ulofoshio wasn't the primary Mike linebacker for the Huskies this season.
Edefuan also sometimes lacks speed and explosiveness. On some reps, it's even surprising to see how slow he can appear. As always, this should be taken with caution because his 40-yard dash time during his pre-draft evaluation could change perceptions quickly. However, I personally have serious doubts about Edefuan's ability to be a sideline-to-sideline player.
Ulofoshio's tackling technique is once again clearly an area that needs work. He misses too many tackles in certain specific situations that should ideally be successful 100% of the time. His technique is lacking; most of the time, he tackles more with his arms than with his torso, and his legs don't follow through. With his legs stationary and attempting to reach the ball carrier with his arms, Ulofoshio sometimes finds himself in a poor position, vulnerable to cuts, stiff arms, or simply a ball carrier who keeps their legs active and continues to drive forward, gaining precious yards. Once again, Ulofoshio has some work to do in this area.
Absolutely, especially when considering he's already 24 years old. Age is something that carries significant weight for certain GMs and coaches, as they often prioritize the potential progress a younger player can make compared to an older one.
In conclusion, Edefuan Ulofoshio is a mid-round draft prospect who could be intriguing to develop, despite being on the older side. At 24 years old for his rookie season, he may already be considered relatively mature, which doesn't leave much time to raise his ceiling. However, he could immediately contend for a rotational ILB role, potentially as the third or fourth option, and be capable of filling in across various defensive schemes if injuries occur during the season.
When I mention seeing him as an ILB, it's important to note that I don't see him as a traditional Mike LB (middle linebacker) in any system. Instead, I see him more as a Buck LB (second ILB in Nickel schemes, such as the 4-2-5, or an OLB in a 3-3-5). In a 3-4 defense, he would still be the second ILB, and in a more conventional 4-3, he would logically shift to OLB. With promising abilities in man-to-man coverage and solid potential in run support, there are certainly aspects of Ulofoshio's game worth considering, but he'll need to improve significantly in zone coverage and avoid missing routine tackles if he hopes to become a starter someday.
In the right environment, he could surprise many. Therefore, he's a Day 3 pick for me, likely in the 5th round.