Ruke Orhorhoro ‘Capable of Being Disruptive’

The name of the game on defense in the NFL is stopping the passing game and Clemson defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro has shown over the past couple of seasons he can get into the pocket.

Per Pro Football Focus, in 2022 and 2023, Orhorhoro has participated in 554 pass plays while producing eight sacks, seven quarterback hits, and 38 quarterback hurries.

In other words, he is capable of being disruptive.

While a lot of pocket disruption tends to come from edge rushers, having defensive tackles who can blow things up from the interior is a premium.

BRUTE POWER

Orhorhoro has demonstrated he can do that by either shooting a gap or he has enough grown man strength to put one of those offensive line big boys on skates and drive him back into the quarterback.

More about Orhorhoro as a pass rusher

Clemson moved him around on the defensive line. Sometimes Orhorhoro lined up at defensive end, but most of the time inside at defensive tackle. Having that kind of pre-snap versatility is a plus.

One of his best traits is his high level of want. There is no substitute for want. In fact, ‘level of want’ to me, is the most important trait of a prospect.

Orhorhoro fights blockers.

Complete three-down defensive tackle

He’s more than a ‘pass-rush specialist.’

Orhorhoro throws his weight around in the run game and can hold his ground. While he is inconsistent shedding blocks in this department, he showed he has the strength and knows the technique well enough to be able to produce. This past season he logged 25 tackles (13 solo and 12 assists) in 12 games. This tells me he can make run stops and contribute and that’s what a team needs.

Granted, it’s not our grandpa’s NFL anymore and the run game isn’t as much of the focus these days for NFL offenses, but it’s still an important part of the game, and having interior defensive linemen who can stop the run is needed.

Where does he project?

Orhorhoro projects to an early day two selection. I had him with a first-round grade heading into the 2023 season, but he didn’t impress me quite as much as he did off his 2022 game film.

Don’t get me wrong, I still like him, but I felt he got tied up with blocks a little more this past season and his inconsistencies bothered me.

Orhorhoro flashes devastating power at times but then that goes away.

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

Daniel Kelly’s 2024 NFL Draft Grade: Second-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 9.8% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of April 1, 2024 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

Ruke Orhorhoro Has Grown Man Strength (6 games evaluated)

2023 game film reviewed: North Carolina, NC State, FSU, Miami and Notre Dame

Orhorhoro Combine Results

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Inconsistent violent-natured athletic fighter with a strong upper body build and long arms. Combination of power and finesse. Big thick muscular legs. Strong base to draw power from. Built out of bricks. Physical. Active. Loves contact. Good effort. Excels at “X” stunts and by using a swim move to gain leverage. Flashed spin and head fake. Capable of bullrushing. Did show some tightness when attempting to make quick changes of direction. Needs to have it lined up. Stronger than naturally explosive. Can hunker down versus the run. Inconsistent taking on and shedding blocks. Prone to get hook blocked from the side. More of a gap-shooting run defender. Sometimes he ends up at the right place at the right time and sometimes he doesn’t.

Final words

Orhorhoro has what it takes to be a productive starter in the NFL.

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. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.