Texas Football: Top 5 early Longhorns prospects for 2021 NFL Draft
4. Joseph Ossai, Linebacker
A fast rising draft stock early in the 2021 class conversation revolves around the 6-foot-4 and 245 pound outside linebacker and rising junior Joseph Ossai. A standout sophomore campaign for Ossai helped to boost his draft stock as it stands now. He ended his freshman campaign on a high-note, and his momentum hasn’t really slowed since.
Ossai led the Longhorns defense in a number of key stat categories last season. He registered 90 total tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks, two interceptions, one pass deflection, and one forced fumble, last year. Ossai also added one sack and one forced fumble from his true freshman campaign. Most of that production came near the end of the 2018 campaign, including in the Sugar Bowl win over the Georgia Bulldogs.
All of the versatility, explosiveness, and sure-tackling ability that Ossai brings to the table makes him a very appealing NFL Draft prospect if he decides to declare early. But there are still some holes in Ossai’s game that need work. He might need more than just one more year to iron out those kinks in his game.
Since Ossai won’t get this offseason in the strength and conditioning program (at least the full summer), he is going to be impacted more so than most other players on this Longhorns team. He’ll need to prove a lot this coming season to show that any first round hype he has building is worth it.