Tag: Ruke Orhorhoro

Ruke Orhorhoro joins Clemson-Atlanta Falcons connection

2024 NFL Draft: The Clemson Tigers have a long list of players who suited up for the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons. Defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro is the latest.

Ruke Orhorhoro will find no shortage of Clemson brethren when he steps into the Atlanta Falcons locker room for the first time.

The standout defensive tackle was drafted 35th overall by Atlanta in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday night. The Falcons traded up with the Arizona Cardinals to draft Orhorhoro in a move that came as a surprise to draft analysts and pundits.

While at Clemson, Orhorhoro finished a stellar five-year career with 97 total tackles (25.5 for loss). He also had 12 sacks, nine pass breakups and two fumble recoveries over 53 games.

Assuming the Falcons’ roster stays as is, Orhorhoro will be one of five former Clemson players who will take the field for Atlanta in 2024.

The Falcons are no stranger to drafting Clemson talent through the years. In 2020, the franchise selected cornerback A.J. Terrell with their first-round pick (16th overall). Veteran defensive end Grady Jarrett, who just completed his ninth season with the team, was a fifth-round pick by Atlanta in 2015.

In free agency, the Falcons added a former Clemson standout last month in wide receiver/kick returner Ray-Ray McCloud. And on special teams, Bradley Pinion has been the Falcons’ punter each of the past two seasons, starting all 34 games. Pinion was a fifth-round selection by the San Francisco 49ers in 2015 who started two years at Clemson.

Among other former Clemson players who starred with Atlanta at one point or another through the years, linebacker Vic Beasley was drafted eighth overall by the Dirty Birds in 2015. Malliciah Goodman was a fourth-round pick by Atlanta in 2013 and spent parts of four seasons with the Falcons.

To take things further back in time, according to the statistical website Sports-Reference.com, the Falcons drafted their first Clemson player in 1984 with the selection of cornerback Rod McSwain.

McSwain was a member of the Tigers’ 1981 national championship team under coach Danny Ford and was chosen in the third round by Atlanta. The Falcons and coach Dan Henning traded McSwain to New England in August of that year before the start of the ’84 season.

A year later, the Falcons selected another cornerback out of Clemson in Reggie Pleasant. Pleasant was a late-round pick who only played in three games during his NFL career — all in 1985.

And in 1987, the Falcons went in on another Tigers player when they drafted running back Kenny Flowers, who started 44 games in four years at Clemson. Flowers played in two seasons with Atlanta in 1987 and 1989.

Orhorhoro is the first Clemson player drafted by Atlanta since Terrell in 2020.

WATCH: Falcons rookie DL Ruke Orhorhoro’s college highlights

WATCH: Falcons rookie defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro’s college highlights

After moving up in the draft via trade with the Arizona Cardinals, the Atlanta Falcons selected defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro in the second round (pick No. 35). Orhorhoro fills an immediate need for Atlanta along the defensive line.

Orhorhoro didn’t play much during his first few years in college, but he appeared in 37 games. He posted a career-high five sacks in 2023. The Clemson standout registered eight tackles for loss in each of the last three seasons.

Check out Orhorhoro’s best college highlights, as shared by the team’s Twitter account below:

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Falcons rookie DL Ruke Orhorhoro has elite Relative Athletic Score

Falcons second-round pick Ruke Orhorhoro had an elite Relative Athletic Score (#RAS) of 9.92

Falcons fans may not know much about second-round pick Ruke Orhorhoro, but the Clemson defensive lineman is an extremely versatile and athletic prospect.

Orhorhoro may not be the edge rusher that fans are desperate to see added but head coach Raheem Morris believes a strong interior line can be just as effective in creating pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The Tigers lineman registered an elite Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.92.

According to the metric’s creator, Kent Lee Platte, Orhorhoro’s score ranks 15th out of 1,808 defensive tackle prospects tested since 1987.

Atlanta gave up a third-round pick while acquiring a sixth-rounder from Arizona to move up for Orhorhoro.The Falcons made a similar move in last year’s draft, trading up to pick No. 38 to select athletic Syracuse offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron.

While that move received mixed reviews at the time, Bergeron has proved to be a solid starter at left guard. Hopefully, this trade will produce similar results as the Falcons desperately need help along their defensive front.

Orhorhoro recorded 17 hurries and five sacks for Clemson last season. He will join a defensive line featuring Grady Jarrett, David Onyemata and Eddie Goldman in Atlanta.

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Grade the Falcons’ selection of Clemson DL Ruke Orhorhoro

VOTE: Grade the Falcons’ selection of Clemson DL Ruke Orhorhoro in the 2nd round (pick No. 35) of the 2024 NFL draft

The Atlanta Falcons pulled off a trade with the Arizona Cardinals to move up in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft before selecting Clemson defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro with pick No. 35.

The Falcons parted with pick No. 43 along with a third-round pick (No. 79) to move up eight spots. Atlanta also received a sixth-round pick from the Cardinals as part of the trade.

Orhorhoro was drafted amid a run on defensive linemen in the second round. Grade the pick in our latest Falcons fan poll below:

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Breaking: Falcons trade up to select DT Ruke Orhorhoro at No. 35 overall

Breaking: Falcons trade up to select DT Ruke Orhorhoro at No. 35 overall in the 2024 NFL draft

The Atlanta Falcons have traded up to the No. 35 overall selection in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft and selected Clemson defensive tackle Ruke Orhororo.

Starting with the player, he’s certainly an exciting projects. His ceiling is high but it will rely on him developing as a pass rusher. He offers some positional versatility between being able to moved around to the edge, especially if he develops correctly. He’ll have a good mentor in David Onyemata.

Now, to get the player, the Falcons gave up a lot of value. The Falcons traded away picks No. 43 and 79, the Arizona Cardinals gave up 35 and 189. Moving down 110 spots in the draft with your next selection is a good bit for a project player with another great option in Johnny Newton still on the board.

Another head scratching move for Terry Fontenot in Atlanta.

Grade: D+

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Atlanta Falcons trade up to get Clemson’s Ruke Orhorhoro in early second round of NFL Draft

NFL Draft: The Atlanta Falcons traded up to select Clemson Tigers defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro in the early second round (35th overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft Friday night.

Clemson defensive tackle Ruke Orhorboro has been selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons.

The Falcons traded up with the Arizona Cardinals to select Orhorboro with the No. 35 overall pick early Friday night. Orhorboro was credited with 97 tackles (25.5 for loss), 12 sacks, nine pass breakups and two fumble recoveries in 1,526 career snaps over 53 games (including 30 starts) at Clemson from 2019-23.

In his final season at Clemson, Orhorboro started all 12 games and had 25 total tackles (13 solo), including eight tackles for loss and five sacks.

Per USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis:

He had nine sacks and 16 tackles for loss over the past two years for the Tigers. Orhorhoro could succeed Grady Jarrett in a year while playing behind him and David Onyemata and refining his craft in the interim for a defense that needs to generate more pressure. A bit unpolished, Orhorhoro is definitely a good athlete, the 6-4, 294-pounder running a sub-4.9 40 at the combine.

Falcons NFL Draft grade: Ruke Orhorhoro, IDL, Clemson 35th overall

NFL Draft grade for the Atlanta Falcons trading up and selecting Clemson DT Ruke Orhorhoro

The Atlanta Falcons shot up the draft board to try and land a difference maker along their defensive front and landed a big one in Clemson defensive lineman Ruke Orhohoro with the 35th overall pick.

Orhorhoro projects as a rotational piece along an overhauled Atlanta defensive line that includes the likes of Grady Jarrett and David Onyemata and should bring a ton of pass-rushing talent to their interior.

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With a deep pass rushing tool box and reliable as a run stuffer, Orhororo is a refined player even with a bit of a lacking physical skillset. You can never have too many pass rushers, and Orhorhoro should bring some juice in the middle of the Atlanta defense.

Grade: C+

Chargers make multiple trades in Mel Kiper’s latest two-round mock draft

The Chargers stock up on picks in Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft.

The Chargers are a prime candidate to trade down in the first round of this year’s draft, which is what ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. sees them doing in his latest two-round projections.

Los Angeles moves back six spots with the Vikings, who come up to select quarterback J.J. McCarthy. The Bolts add pick No. 23 and a 2025 first-rounder.

With pick No. 11, the Chargers select offensive tackle J.C. Latham.

The Chargers want to run the ball more efficiently, which Latham could aid.

Hulking at 6-foot-6 and 360 pounds, Latham is a force in pass protection and the run game with a great combination of size, strength, physicality and agility, projecting as a starter from Day 1.

Latham would likely replace Trey Pipkins at right tackle, but he possesses the versatility to play guard.

Later in the first round, Los Angeles takes Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy.

The Chargers need to get younger and faster at the positional, and Worthy, who ran the fastest 40 time (4.21) in combine history, would bring that.

Los Angeles trading down doesn’t end there, as the Rams move up 15 spots to take QB Michael Penix Jr. The Bolts acquire Nos. 52, 83 and 196.

With their second-round pick, the Chargers draft defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro.

Orhorhoro is a versatile player capable of playing different spots along the defensive line, and he plays with great size, strength and athleticism.

Lions host local pro day for NFL draft prospects

Lions host local pro day for NFL draft prospects and here’s who participated

The Detroit Lions hosted their annual pro day for locally based NFL draft prospects on Tuesday. Over 20 players took advantage of the workout opportunity.

The local pro day primarily featured players from nearby colleges, with many prospects from Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Toledo and Michigan State. They were joined by prospects with Detroit roots as well, including players from UCLA, LSU and Texas A&M.

These players and their participation do not count against the Lions limit of 30 official pre-draft visits.

The attendees, with the local colleges followed by the local prospects who played collegiately outside of the regional area:

  • Karsen Barnhart, OL, Michigan
  • Michael Barrett, LB, Michigan
  • Judge Culpepper, DT, Toledo
  • Hamze El-Zayat, WR, Eastern Michigan
  • Jaylen Harrell, LB, Michigan
  • Trevor Keegan, OL, Michigan
  • Chase Kline, LB, Eastern Michigan
  • Tanner Knue, WR, Eastern Michigan
  • Chris McDonald, CB, Toledo
  • Tre Mosley, LB, Michigan State
  • Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan
  • Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan
  • Jordan Anderson, S, UCLA
  • Theo Day, QB, Northern Iowa
  • Josh DeBerry, CB, Texas A&M
  • James Ester, DT, Northern Illinois
  • Kalon Gervin, CB, Kansas
  • Ovie Oghoufo, DL, LSU
  • Ruke Orhorhoro, DT, Clemson
  • Reggie Pearson, S, Oklahoma
  • Walter Reynolds, S, Ohio
  • Darius Robinson, DL, Missouri
  • Justin Rogers, DT, Auburn

Browns: Clemson DT Ruke Orhorhoro most frequent 2024 NFL draft prospect mocked

The Browns and the Clemson defensive tackle are a fan favorite.

As the 2024 NFL draft nears, the Cleveland Browns have been linked to Clemson defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro most frequently by mock drafters.

According to PFF, 17 percent of their mock draft users are sending Orhorhoro to the Browns with the 54th overall pick in the draft. Orhorhoro is known for his ability to hold down his gap in the run game and is a top-tier athlete at the defensive tackle position.

Listed at 6-foot-4 and 294 pounds, Orhorhoro blazed a 4.89 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, adding elite agility in the short shuttle and three-cone drill, with an elite explosive grade as well.

Browns Ruke Orhorhoro 2024 NFL draft

A three-year contributor at Clemson, Orhorhoro has consistently racked up eight tackles for loss over the past three years, and set a career-high in sacks in 2023 with five.

Again, mock drafters are most predominantly draftniks who are seeking that hit of dopamine on the heels of the actual event. However, Orhorhoro is a stout and athletic run defender at a position of need for the Browns, so the fit is evident.

How will the Browns select when they come on the clock with the 54th overall pick? Only time will tell.