Former Longhorn Brian Orakpo referred to Joseph Ossai as the next ‘Nigerian Nightmare‘ prior to the start of the 2020 college football season.
Much like Ossai, Orakpo’s final year on the Forty Acres was his best individual season. As a senior in 2008, Orakpo took home the Nagurski Trophy (nation’s top defensive player), Lombardi Award (nation’s top lineman) and the Hendricks Award (nation’s top defensive end).
He was eventually selected in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft and learned many valuable lessons throughout his 10 pro seasons — four of which he was named to the Pro Bowl.
Needless to say, he knows a thing or two about what it takes to be successful, and he senses similar traits in Ossai. Orakpo spoke with Longhorns Wire last week and gave an excellent piece of advice for one of Texas’ top draft prospects who’s widely projected to be selected within the first round of the 2021 NFL draft.
“My advice for (Ossai) is to be completely open,” Orakpo said. “What I mean by that is don’t put yourself in a box to be either a defensive end or outside linebacker or whatever else — be versatile. I think that the more versatile that you can be, the better off your career will take off and the better off you’re able to stay on the field to make the plays that you want to make.”
Orakpo reiterated the importance of not getting too caught up in what scheme is the best fit and rather be open and be able to do it all.
“I’d say just work on all your craft — the things that you normally don’t do well. Work on that right now to where when it’s time you can impress these scouts, you can impress these teams and they’ll see that you can do it all. Keep yourself open.”
Orakpo was commonly listed as a defensive end prospect throughout his pre-draft process, although he primarily played outside linebacker for Washington. Ossai possess many of the same traits as a player and should he follow Orakpo’s advice, he’s in for a productive professional career.