Ruke Orhorhoro Has Grown Man Strength

The moment I started watching Clemson defensive tackle (DT) Ruke Orhorhoro I knew. Elite talent always jumps out on film.

Orhorhoro is a difference-maker. He’s a battering ram who thrives on violent collisions.

He played in the rotation on his 2022 film, but make no mistake, this prospect is a three-down defender. Orhorhoro is better at creating pressure in passing situations than he is run defending, but that’s perfect in the pass-happy NFL.

Get that quarterback

Orhorhoro is what I like to call ‘quarterback-minded.’ It’s a term I came up with to describe defensive linemen who want to blow up the pocket.

To date, this Clemson defender has seven sacks over the past two seasons. In 2022, he had 27 pressures and a 7.6% win rate (pff.com).

He has a thick, stout, athletic frame with long arms and heavy hands that deliver a powerful jolt at the initial point of attack. He tends to get movement and if slides into a gap, he’ll dart into the quarterback’s face.

Orhorhoro is a pocket pusher.

Anytime an NFL team can get a prospect who can generate legitimate pressure from the inside, it’s a huge win.

That’s Orhorhoro.

He drew his fair share of double teams. He’s a handful.

Brute power

I remember watching Crunch Course growing up. My Grandma gave me a subscription to Sports Illustrated for Christmas one year and this video came with it. I must have watched it a thousand times (not even exaggerating).

There’s this one part that talks about the trenches where the offensive and defensive lines wage war. “The pit, an area not much bigger than a closet, yet within its confines is the game’s most heavily weighted struggle.”

Doug English (who played defensive line for the Lions at the time) said in the video, “A clash of wills, between the offensive lineman and the defensive lineman. One player ends up on top, or on bottom by the end of the game. The press never writes about it, nothing is really said about it, but I think both players generally know who would’ve liked to play football for another quarter and who wouldn’t.”

Teams need the guy who ends up on top.

Adding a prospect like Orhorhoro adds that element of brute power to a team’s defense. He’s mean, nasty, and violent and he hits people like a heavy-weight boxer. He also gets fired up and visibly shows emotion.

My kind of guy.

What does he look like against the run?

He’s inconsistent in this department and it’s not because of a lack of effort either.

There are times when he slips through a gap and blows things up with a tackle for a loss. Sometimes he guesses right, sometimes he doesn’t.

He fights, but he’s inconsistent disengaging from strong blocking efforts. However, he does hold his ground. This guy is tough to move, which allows other defenders to get to the ball carrier. I guess he has more of an indirect effect on the run defense.

#33 Ruke Orhorhoro 6-foot-4, 290 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Fall 2023 Grade: First-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 16.3% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of November 20, 2023 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

Game film reviewed (2022): North Carolina, Wake Forest, FSU, Syracuse, NC State, and South Carolina (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2022 stats: 23 tackles (13 solo), 5 passes defended and 4 sacks

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

A tenacious defender with long arms who packs a punch and wants to get to the quarterback. Athletic force of nature. Extreme power. Draws a lot of double teams in passing situations. Disruptive. Played some edge in a three-man front. Mostly lined up at defensive tackle. Uses his hands well. Active. Can close. Has a short-area burst. Gets neutralized after his initial push is contained. More of a north-south pass rusher. Didn’t get going on “X” stunts. Flashed swim and spin moves. Strong effort against the run. Can get washed past running lanes. Possible projection to DE in a 3-4 (three down linemen and four linebackers).

What to watch for during the 2023 college football season

1. Sack and pressure production?

2. Win rate increase?

3. Pass rush moves?

4. Disengaging from run blocks?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, contributes at Yardbarker, and has written for Sports Illustrated Lions, Jets, and 49ers, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.