Today’s NFL requires much from their defensive backs, from size and length to athleticism and versatility. If your favorite NFL team is looking for that kind of prospect in the 2020 NFL draft, Iowa’s Michael Ojemudia checks every box.
A big, athletic corner who showed off at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Ojemudia recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about his experience in Indy, how playing at Iowa prepared him for the pro ranks, and what kind of impact he’ll make at the next level.
JM: What was your experience like at the NFL Scouting Combine?
MJ: It was a good experience. I was happy to get that part of the process out of the way. It’s all football from here on out. It was an opportunity to showcase myself on the biggest stage.
JM: You ran the 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds and leaped a 36-inch vertical. I thought you had an excellent combine. How would you grade your overall performance?
MJ: I think it was solid. Those weren’t the best numbers that I’m capable of. I’m capable of more but I put up the best numbers possible given the conditions we were put in. I think that it was solid for me. I’m happy with my performance.
JM: When you say conditions, are you referring to the new prime-time schedule, or just how busy of a weekend it is?
MJ: Yeah, I’m just referring to the overall schedule. They keep you busy. You’re not at your peak performance. You’re not sleeping right, you’re not eating right. That’s what I mean when I refer to the conditions.
JM: What do you think is the impression you left out there?
MJ: Nobody should be questioning my athletic ability anymore. I definitely put those concerns or questions to rest. I think that I showed in my interviews that I’m a good football player and that I love the game.
JM: Did you have a lot of formal or informal interviews in Indianapolis?
MJ: I spoke with a lot of teams. I think it went well. I didn’t have any formals. I probably had informals with all 32 teams though.
JM: Do you have any private visits or workouts lined up? Or will those come after the Pro Day?
MJ: We’re in the process of scheduling some of those. We’re just having the initial discussions. I’m actually still in school. I’ll be graduating in May. We’re starting to nail some things down. My pro day is on March 23rd.
JM: That’s great. What was the strangest or most difficult question you were asked at the combine?
MJ: That’s a tough question. It’s been a process. I’ve had so many meetings and discussions. They definitely wanna catch you off guard a little bit. For example, at the Senior Bowl I had a team ask me which part of the Senior Bowl do I hate the most? That was kinda weird. A question like that is difficult to answer.
JM: Is there a scheme that you prefer to play in at the next level?
MJ: No, not really. I think throughout my time at Iowa and even at the Senior Bowl, I’ve been exposed to a lot of things. I’ve played for a lot of different coaches and I’ve picked up something from every single one of them. I’ve learned a lot throughout the past few years. Whatever I play in at the next level, I feel good about my ability to adapt and learn a new system. I feel like I have at least some familiarity with every scheme out there.
JM: How do you cover a bigger, more physical receiver differently than you would a smaller, shiftier one?
MJ: You definitely have to be physical with those bigger guys. They’re gonna try to push off at the top of their routes. I’ve always been mindful of that. You have to be physical at the line of scrimmage because I know they’re gonna be physical off the snap. I have to use my hands and be a little sturdier with them.
JM: Who are some of the best wide receivers you’ve ever had to cover?
MJ: Michael Pittman, Jr. definitely comes to mind. Quintez Cephus from Wisconsin was a good one. Those are some guys I had to cove while playing for Iowa. I had to cover a whole bunch of good ones down at the Senior Bowl. Van Jefferson was really good. Denzel Mims is definitely another one. I played against better receivers at the Senior Bowl than I did during my time at Iowa.
JM: Speaking of your time at Iowa, if you had to go into battle tomorrow and could only bring one teammate with you, who would it be and why?
MJ: I would definitely bring Geno Stone with me. We’re always on the same page. We always watch film together. We actually live with each other. We work out together. We actually trained for the combine together. He’s just somebody that I’m super close with. I would definitely go to battle with him.
JM: When a team uses a draft pick on Michael Ojemudia, what kind of guy are they getting?
MJ: They’re definitely getting a guy that loves the game of football. I’m gonna work as hard as the guy next to me. I’m never gonna let anybody down. I’m gonna be the most physical defensive back out there. I’m a competitive, smart player at the end of the day. They’re gonna get my best. I wanna be on the field as soon as I can. I’m gonna do everything I can to contribute immediately, even if that means I’m playing special teams. That’s the kind of player I am.
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