The Oklahoma State Cowboys haven’t had a linebacker drafted to the NFL since Linc Harden in 1995. Can current Oklahoma State LB Amen Ogbongbemiga end that 26-year drought in the 2021 NFL Draft?
Amen Ogbongbemiga NFL Draft Profile
- Position: Linebacker
- School: Oklahoma State
- Current Year: Senior
- Height: 6’1″
- Weight: 235 pounds
Tony Pauline’s Amen Ogbongbemiga Scouting Report
Positives: Tough run-defending linebacker who was very productive the past three years. Breaks down well, displays a good head for the ball in run defense, and does not bite on ball fakes. Fires up the field, fluidly changes direction, and flows well to the play. Nicely redirects to the action or ball-handler and wraps up tackling. Athletic, gets out to the sidelines showing speed in pursuit, and covers a good amount of area.
Negatives: Hesitant and late reacting in coverage. Limited production in coverage during his college career.
Analysis: Ogbongbemiga is a tough run-defending linebacker who is best at making plays in the box or up the field. He’s a two-down defender with the athleticism and tenacity to be used on the inside of a 3-4 alignment.
Amen Ogbongbemiga Player Profile
Oklahoma State linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga has traveled a very different path to the 2021 NFL Draft than most. Nigerian born, he originally moved to America in 2003. His brother, Alex, played for the Houston Cougars in 2010 before the family moved to Canada in 2011. As Alex was finishing his college football career at the University of Calgary, Amen began to rise to prominence at Notre Dame High School.
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As a junior in 2014, he logged an impressive 104 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles. Additionally, he shined as a track and field star. In his senior season, he improved his production across the board. He was named the Notre Dame MVP. Furthermore, he received First Team All-District honors after racking up 110 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, and 5 forced fumbles.
A three-star recruit and the number one player in Alberta, he began to get attention from south of the border. Nevada was the first to offer before he attended junior camps at Notre Dame and Oklahoma State. Another family connection — former Oklahoma State Cowboy Emmanuel Ogbah — helped seal the deal for the Cowboys.
Amen Ogbongbemiga’s college football career at Oklahoma State
As his cousin left for the 2016 NFL Draft, Amen Ogbongbemiga arrived in Stillwater. He redshirted his freshman season before seeing action in 12 games as a redshirt freshman in 2017. Impressing as a special teams contributor, he had 2 tackles for loss against South Alabama and Baylor.
He’d add a first career sack in the “Bedlam” rivalry game with Oklahoma as a sophomore. He also recovered a fumble against Iowa State. However, his career exploded the following year as a junior. As the Oklahoma State defense improved, so did he. Or perhaps it was the other way around.
Following a season that saw a career-high 3.5 tackles for loss against West Virginia and a crucial INT in a win over Iowa State, he was awarded the Leslie O’Neal Award as the MVP of the Cowboys’ defense. In addition, he earned national recognition with a place on the All-Big 12 Second Team.
In his final season with the Cowboys, he once again earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors. He had a career-high 3 forced fumbles in a standout game against TCU, also setting a then-career-high single-game tackle total of 12. He returned to terrorize West Virginia with a sack and a tackle for loss as part of a career-high 13 tackles.
Following the season, Oklahoma State linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga declared for the 2021 NFL Draft.
Amen Ogbongbemiga’s best fits in the 2021 NFL Draft
Although he played outside LB in high school, Amen Ogbongbemiga heads to the 2021 NFL Draft as an inside LB prospect. During his college career, he has played the middle linebacker spot in a 4-2-5 scheme. As a result, he best projects to play middle LB in a 4-3 scheme or a similar 4-2-5 scheme in the NFL.
Considered a mid-late round prospect, his experience on special teams could prove crucial to his value. Some team and need fits include the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, and the Detroit Lions.
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Oliver Hodgkinson is a staff writer for Pro Football Network. You can follow him on Twitter at @ojhodgkinson.