/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49282833/GettyImages-489135784.0.jpg)
Coming out of UB's pro day nobody made a bigger physical impression than Buffalo linebacker Okezie Alozie. The linebacker had a great year for Buffalo, garnering all conference honors, but many thought he was a long shot to get drafted.
Alozie | LB Com | S Com | |
---|---|---|---|
40 Yrd | 4.78 | 19/31 | 24/25 |
Bench | 20 | 12/27 | 2/27 |
Vert | 39.5 | 2/32 | 2/25 |
Broad | 130 | 2/32 | 2/25 |
Shuttle | 4.43 | 13/21 | 12/13 |
3 Cone | 7.32 | 15/17 | 21/21 |
When his pro day performance rivaled those of some of the better linebackers at the NFL combine things got interesting. Last year UB nose tackle Kristjan Sokoli was drafted on the basis of his measurable and his pro day performance.
Seattle took one look at the numbers and drafted him, hoping to convert Sokoli to an offensive lineman.
Alozie's performance this year could grab enough eyes that teams look to take him late as a project player. Alozie is athletic enough that he could be tuned for a number of roles on an NFL roster.
He bested all but one linebacker and one safety in the broad and vertical jumps. Those are the one that really jump out but all of his other numbers were either better than most or better than some.
At the Buffalo bulls pro day were scouts from the Bills and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
GP | TKL | AST | TOT | TKL/G | SCK | YDS | TFL | YDS | FF | FR | YDS | INT | YDS | BRUP | BLK | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012-13 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 5 | .5 | - | - | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
2013-14 | 13 | 22 | 23 | 45 | 3.5 | 1 | 5 | 2.5 | 7 | - | 1 | 0 | - | - | 2 | - |
2014-15 | 11 | 27 | 22 | 49 | 4.5 | 3 | 23 | 5 | 26 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 3 | - |
2015-16 | 12 | 46 | 39 | 85 | 7.1 | 5 | 34 | 10.5 | 50 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 65 | 7 | - |
Total | 46 | 95 | 89 | 184 | 4.0 | 9 | 62 | 18 | 83 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 65 | 12 | - |
Alozie had a team-high five sacks and also ranked third on the team in tackles (85) and tackles for loss (10.5). His biggest game of 2015 came against Ohio. He picked off the bobcats twice, returning one for a touchdown. Alozie's score came with 3:05 left in the second quarter and gave the Bulls a 28-10 lead.
Heading into proday Alozie understood that he has a better chance of being a Safety at the next level than a linebacker but his performance among both groups is impressive. His speed is perhaps the only thing which might give scouts pause. He was a middle of the pack linebacker and towards the back of the pack for safeties.
An NFL team looking for a good situational defensive back might take a shot on Alozie. There are a lot of places in nickle and dime packages where you need a back who is good near the line. His versatility means that even as a depth safety he can be valuable on special teams.