Tag: Odafe Oweh

What number will Odafe Oweh wear with the Baltimore Ravens?

Former Penn State defensive end Odafe Oweh is changing his uniform number in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens.

Penn State fans looking to pick up another jersey of a former Nittany Lion in the NFL now know what jersey number defensive end Odafe Oweh will wear with the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens announced their rookie uniform numbers on Wednesday, including a new number for Oweh as he begins his career in the NFL.

Oweh will wear No. 99 for the Baltimore Ravens. It is unknown if Oweh wanted to wear the same number he wore for the Nittany Lions (No. 28), but Oweh’s old number with the Nittany Lions is already in use in Baltimore. Jordan Richards currently owns the No. 28 on the Ravens roster.

According to the updated NFL uniform policy, linebackers in the NFL are permitted to wear a uniform number from 1-59 and 90-99. Oweh, who will be utilized as an outside linebacker by the Ravens, was out of luck on this one.

Former Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons, who was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft, will take advantage of the NFL’s new relaxed uniform number code and wear No. 11 for the Cowboys. Parsons also wore No. 11 at Penn State.

Baltimore selected Oweh with the No. 31 pick in the 2021 NFL draft.

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Ravens announce jersey numbers for 2021 draft class

The Baltimore Ravens selected eight players in the 2021 NFL draft. It was revealed what jersey numbers they’d wear at the pro level

The Baltimore Ravens selected eight players in the 2021 draft. Each of them will be asked to come in and contribute at a high level while also developing their skills.

A big talking point for the newest members of the team was what jersey number each player was going to wear. Rashod Bateman posted a photo on his Instagram of him in a No. 12 jersey, which sparked plenty of conversation. On Wednesday, Baltimore officially announced which numbers the rookies from their draft class would be wearing.

It’s notable that new edge rusher Odafe Oweh will be wearing former Ravens outside linebacker Matthew Judon’s No. 99, while defensive back Brandon Stephens will be donning running back Mark Ingram’s (and cornerback Lardarius Webb’s) old No. 21 jersey. Defensive back Shaun Wade will be wearing No. 29, which was formerly worn by safety Earl Thomas III (and most recently cornerback Tramon Williams).

Baltimore’s 2021 draft class will be expected to play football at an extremely high level moving forward. Now they can look good doing it in their new jerseys.

Grading the Ravens’ selection of Odafe Oweh

After selecting Rashod Bateman, the Baltimore Ravens selected Odafe Oweh with their second first-round selection. Was it the right call?

After selecting wide receiver Rashod Bateman with the 27th overall pick, the Baltimore Ravens stayed put with their second first-round selection and took Penn State edge rusher Odafe Oweh. Baltimore needed some help on the edge, as the team had three of their six edge contributors that played for them in 2020 leave in free agency.

Oweh brings plenty to the table in terms of pure athletic traits. He ran a 4.36 40-yard dash at his pro-day, which arguably vaulted him into the first-round conversation. He stands at 6-foot-5 and weighs 257 pounds, giving him good size at the position. With his overall size and speed, he’s a matchup nightmare from the 3-4 outside linebacker position, where he’s expected to play with the Ravens.

Oweh has an array of moves that he uses to be a force in stopping both the passing game and running game of opposing offenses. He’s labeled as an ultimate disruptor and is someone who can make his impact felt in a multitude of ways.

One of the main concerns with Oweh was his lack of production in college. He didn’t have a single sack in 2020, and only accumulated seven sacks total throughout his three years with the Nittany Lions.

In selecting Oweh, Baltimore took a huge swing on the potential that he could untap. He is extremely raw in some areas and is still learning how to play the game, as he doesn’t have a ton of experience on the field (he played in only 20 games in college). However, there might not have been a better landing spot for him than with the Ravens, as the organization has both the coaches and the players to mentor him and help him grow into a phenomenal NFL talent. Although there were a few other big time names on the board that would have been great picks for Baltimore, the Ravens clearly think very highly of Oweh, and made sure to get their guy.

Grade: B

Ravens DE Jayson Oweh wants fans, media to call him by his birth name

After being selected by the Baltimore Ravens, DE Jayson Oweh is letting the world know the name he wants to go by in the NFL.

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It was an exciting night for Penn State football on night one of the NFL draft. Two Penn Staters heard their names called when commissioner Roger Goodell stepped up to the podium in Cleveland, Thursday night.

Micah Parsons was selected No. 12 overall by the Dallas Cowboys and Jayson Oweh was taken No. 31 overall by the Baltimore Ravens.

Both players were ecstatic to hear each other’s names called and to represent Penn State in the NFL, but Oweh had more to say now that he’ll be a household name in the Ravens community.

When Oweh spoke with the Ravens media after being drafted, he said that he wants to be called by his first name, Odafe (O-dah-FAY).

Oweh’s middle name, Jayson, is what he went with throughout his career at Penn State because he thought Odafe would be difficult to pronounce for fans, media and others that followed Penn State football.

Now, Oweh is embracing his first name and making sure the rest of the football world does the same.

“I don’t care anymore,” he said. “You’re going to have to learn how to pronounce it.”

Oweh goes to a Baltimore Ravens team that has had success at developing edge rushers in years past. Defensive coordinator Don Martindale has over 16 years of NFL experience coaching the defensive side of the ball and has led the Ravens for years as one of the better defensive teams in the NFL.

With the addition of Oweh, the Ravens are getting a freakishly athletic defensive end who has all the tools to make an impact for their franchise.

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Why Ravens fans should be excited about Odafe Oweh

Breaking down the Baltimore Ravens’ selection of Penn State edge defender Odafe Oweh in the 2021 NFL draft

With the No. 31 overall pick and their second pick in the first round, the Baltimore Ravens selected Penn State edge rusher Odafe Oweh.

The glaring concern on Oweh is his not having any sacks in 2020, but the upside with him is through the roof. He possesses a lengthy frame with long arms and a muscular build that in itself would be enough to be enticing for NFL teams.

Oweh, who recently indicated he wanted to be called by his first name Odafe rather than Jayson, is an elite athlete by NFL standards, not just for the edge rusher position. He ran an insane 4.37 40-yard dash at his Pro Day, and he jumped out of the gym with a 39.5-inch vertical and an 11-foot-2 broad jump. That athleticism is apparent in his first-step quickness and his mobility in space.

The Ravens typically choose to defer to outside of the first round to select an edge rusher, but the athletic upside Oweh brings makes him a worthy exception to that trend. He joins a front-seven that already features such pass-rushers as Calais Campbell and Derek Wolfe, and he gives them a potential long-term stalwart on defense if he develops correctly.

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Odafe Oweh says people are ‘going to have to learn’ how to pronounce his first name

The Baltimore Ravens took Penn State edge rusher Odafe Oweh with the 31st overall pick. He all-but said he’ll be going by Odafe, not Jayson

The Baltimore Ravens selected edge rusher Odafe “Jayson” Oweh with the 31st pick in the 2021 NFL draft. The Ravens could have opted to trade out of the selection and acquire a few more picks in later rounds, but opted to take their guy in Oweh, someone who has incredible athletic gifts and tools.

During his introductory press conference with Baltimore media members, Oweh was asked about where his name, Jayson, came from. Oweh responded that Jayson is actually his middle name and switched to it because people had trouble pronouncing his actual first name, Odafe.

For Oweh, his NFL career represents a new chapter in his life. Flipping the page on Jayson and switching back to using his first name is something that’s he seemingly feels strongly about, and rightfully so. While Odafe might be a bit harder to pronounce than Jayson, it’s not that much more difficult. As Oweh said, people will have to learn how to pronounce his first name, because he doesn’t care that it’s a tiny bit more complicated to say.

Penn State defensive end Jayson Oweh taken at No. 31 by Baltimore Ravens

Penn State defensive end Jayson Oweh was one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2021 NFL draft after his stellar pro day.

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One of the top-rising defensive prospects in the NFL draft pool now has a new home. Penn State defensive end Jayson Oweh was selected with the No. 31 overall pick by the Baltimore Ravens.

Oweh put on a freak show in Penn State’s pro day, which was part of the reason he was considered to have so much momentum heading into the NFL draft. Oweh had been popping up late in the first round of various mock drafts, suggesting he is viewed as a true first-round talent.

Oweh was congratulated by Micah Parsons, who was also drafted in the first round on Thursday evening.

Oweh will likely need a little bit of time to fully develop into the kind of edge rushers that will allow him to shine at the next level, but scouts have raved about the speed and burst he gets off the snap.

CLEVELAND, OHIO – APRIL 29: Jayson Oweh is announced as the 31st pick to the Baltimore Ravens during round one of the 2021 NFL Draft at the Great Lakes Science Center on April 29, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

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Penn State’s NFL draft history through the years

With plenty of Penn State talent, we take a look at the history of players that get their name called on draft night.

The 2021 NFL Draft is slated to kick off around 8 PM ET on Thursday night. Football fans are getting excited (and nervous) to see how their favorite teams’ front offices decide which players they want to develop into future stars.

This year, Penn State has a handful of players that should get their name called over the next several days. Top draft prospects Micah Parsons will hear his name on Thursday night pending any chaos that unfolds. Jayson Oweh has been mocked in the first round, but he could fall down to the top half of the second round along with tight end Pat Freiermuth.

Shaka Toney, Lamont Wade, Will Fries and Michael Menet fill out the rest of the 2021 draft prospects for the Nittany Lions.

Penn State football has had 361 drafted players over the years, which is tied for third-most in the Big Ten (behind Michigan and Ohio State) and sixth-most all-time.

In the 2020 NFL Draft, Penn State had five players drafted. Yetur Gross-Matos (Panthers), KJ Hamler (Broncos), John Reid (Texans), Cam Brown (Giants), and Robert Windsor (Colts).

The 1987 NFL Draft was the best year for Penn State football. After coming off a National Championship win over the Miami Hurricanes, 13 players were drafted. LB Shane Conlan was drafted 8th overall to the Buffalo Bills and RB D.J. Dozier was selected 14th overall to the Minnesota Vikings.

Since 2006, the Nittany Lions have had at least one player drafted for 15 straight years. 62 players during that 15-year span that sported the blue and white had their name called.

Make sure to tune in to the 2021 NFL Draft to see which Penn State players get to be a part of the rich history of NFL players to come out of Happy Valley.

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