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Edefuan Ulofoshio NFL Draft Profile
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Edefuan Ulofoshio Scouting ReportUlofoshio’s NFL Draft scouting report is certainly intriguing. He doesn’t display top-end athleticism with much consistency, but there are some appealing traits to take note of. Ulofoshio possesses a great deal of lateral agility, and he’s exceptionally light on his feet. He proactively uses his lateral agility to seal off rushing lanes. Ulofoshio flashes an impressive closing burst at the tackle point, and he can maximize his pursuit speed with quick, long strides. He also shows off some explosiveness when he has a runway. Furthermore, the Washington product flashes fluidity when flipping his hips and dropping into coverage. With this fluidity, Ulofoshio can instinctively navigate congestion and flow to the ball carrier. He has some escapability when it comes to avoiding blocks and owns stellar balance when engaged with blockers. Edefuan may be more appealing for his intangible traits. He’s a high-effort player who consistently finishes plays. He willingly engages blockers and takes strong tackling angles, proactively wrapping up ball carriers with his arms. He has the awareness to recognize delayed routes from running backs, and he always keeps his eyes keyed in on the quarterback in coverage. Ulofoshio’s composure is more than worth noting. Play-action fakes don’t easily fool the Washington ILB, and he isn’t fazed by initial losses in run defense. He can adapt quickly as plays develop, and this helps him to recover at the second level. |
Areas for ImprovementAs much as Ulofoshio showed promise in 2020, some questions are marring his 2022 NFL Draft scouting report. Most notably, the Washington LB doesn’t appear to have elite overall athleticism, even if some of his traits are solid. His short-range explosiveness can show up with more consistency, and his maximum pursuit speed isn’t top-tier. Moreover, Ulofoshio doesn’t have exceptional corrective athleticism, and his size is somewhat lacking. He doesn’t quite have the length to make tackles amidst displacement. In run defense, Ulofoshio’s size also comes up — he can struggle to disengage against larger blockers. Furthermore, he overshoots tackling angles on occasion and can periodically work himself into the wrong gap and become vulnerable. For the most part, Ulofoshio is assignment-sound, but he can strive to maximize his consistency. It’s worth noting that, while Ulofoshio’s athleticism doesn’t appear to be elite, he can afford to play faster at times. He’s a measured player but also reserved and sometimes tentative. As a result, he doesn’t always play at full speed. Similarly, he doesn’t play with anticipation in coverage often. Adding that to his game might allow him to become more dynamic.
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Edefuan Ulofoshio Career at WashingtonIn what was an impressive feat on its own, Ulofoshio managed to earn playing time as a true freshman walk-on, although it wasn’t much. He only played in three games, mainly on special teams, but managed to make an impact nonetheless. Ulofoshio forced 2 fumbles in that short period, providing a glimpse of what was to come. In 2019, Ulofoshio expanded onto the defensive side of the ball. He played in all 13 of Washington’s games, starting three. Along that stretch, the Huskies LB accumulated 47 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, and a forced fumble. To Ulofoshio’s delight, his 2019 performance earned him a scholarship with the Huskies, and he came into the shortened 2020 season with newfound energy. Washington’s 2020 campaign was only four games in total, but Ulofoshio produced at a career-high clip. He matched his tackle total from the previous year with 47 and tacked on a sack, 4 pass deflections, 2 fumble recoveries, and a forced fumble. In the process, he earned All-Pac-12 second-team honors. In a sense, Ulofoshio has already succeeded by earning a scholarship after walking on to a Power Five program. Still, the journey isn’t over for the Washington ILB. The 2022 NFL Draft is on the horizon, and he has a chance to take the next step. |
Edefuan Ulofoshio NFL Draft Player ProfileIt remains to be seen where Ulofoshio will file in among the other 2022 linebackers. He seems to be reasonably athletic, and he offers some refinement in both run and pass defense. However, his upside remains ambiguous. He owns redeeming traits, like short-range burst and lateral athleticism, but his sideline-to-sideline speed too often underwhelms. With his background as a walk-on and his impressive tackling ability, Ulofoshio undoubtedly has early utility as a special-teams player. Still, if he wants to be a starter at the NFL level, he may need to unlock more parts of his game. He’s a solid player with a reasonably high floor. But right now, he isn’t a legitimate challenger for a Round 1 slot. Even so, Ulofoshio has three-down potential. It’s just a matter of how impactful he’ll end up being.
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