The Panthers’ defensive unit flashed some serious potential in their shutout performance last week against the Lions. Consistency is something this young Carolina defense has yet to find, though. To take the next step, they’ll need to add more talent at a few key positions that are currently lacking. One possibility to look for in next year’s draft is adding another hybrid linebacker to pair with Shaq Thompson and Jeremy Chinn. With that in mind, let’s take a look at one of the most exciting defensive players in college football, Notre Dame’s Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.
Profile:
6-foot-2, 220 pounds
Projected 40 yard dash: 4.40 seconds
Owusu-Koramoah is an extremely intelligent and explosive defender that plays all over the field. He has every bit of versatility that Isaiah Simmons has, even though he’s less physically imposing. Notre Dame lines him up at linebacker for the vast majority of his snaps, but he also plays some nickel corner and safety. They typically have him cover tight ends and running backs coming out of the backfield. Using his elite explosiveness and short area quickness, he is able to eliminate typical “mismatches” such as a safety covering a tight end or linebacker covering a running back.
Owusu-Koramoah is certainly not the most physical defender on the field, but watching him drive on a swing pass to a running back is like watching lightning in a bottle. He has such a quick trigger to drive downhill to the ball and pairs it with tremendous tackling ability. Owusu-Koramoah has showed repeatedly that he can step inside to Mike linebacker and pick apart runs in the backfield, as well. He is an electrifying playmaker and mismatch eliminator.
Highlights
Owusu-Koramoah vs. Duke
Owusu-Koramoah vs. Florida State
Owusu-Koramoah vs. Clemson
How he compares:
There really isn’t a player in this draft class that compares to Owusu-Koramoah. He offers so much more value than just a typical three-down linebacker like Penn State’s Micah Parsons or Alabama’s Dylan Moses. Overall, his explosiveness and versatility should make him a top-20 pick. His best comparison would be a mix between Jeremy Chinn and Isaiah Simmons. If he finds his way onto Carolina’s roster, defensive coordinator Phil Snow will have another foundational piece to build around.
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