'17 VA ATH Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (Notre Dame Signee)

[FightingIrishLover7]

One of the most athletic plays i've ever seen a ND LB make. Up there with some of Jaylon's ints.

Agreed.

Also, I still freaking wish we could have seen Jaylon under Lea for 3 years.
My God.

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[NDRock]

We should all know better than to compare anyone to Jaylon (peace be upon him).

I think JOK has been every bit the player as Jaylon was during his time at ND. Love them both. Obviously, Jaylon had inferior coaching.

 

[NDPhilly]

I think JOK has been every bit the player as Jaylon was during his time at ND. Love them both. Obviously, Jaylon had inferior coaching.

Think I agree with this take. Jaylon was criminally underutilized.

 

[rikkitikki08]

My opinion but JOK has pretty much locked himself into a mid to late first round pick over the first 5 games. Pretty incredible how he’s turned out

 

[Irish YJ]

My opinion but JOK has pretty much locked himself into a mid to late first round pick over the first 5 games. Pretty incredible how he’s turned out

I agree, but I keep seeing him in the 2nd in most mocks.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I agree, but I keep seeing him in the 2nd in most mocks.

Todd McShay who has been on him since last season stated he is a top 20 pick....we will see.


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[T-Boone]

How will he go in the combine. He must be one of the fastest LBs?

 

[317Irish]

Do we all remember how Jaylon was in some conversations for #1 overall prior to his injury. Wu is faster and is a freak of an LB, but Jaylon was a future HOF’er while at ND.

 

[IrishLax]

Agreed.

Also, I still freaking wish we could have seen Jaylon under Lea for 3 years.
My God.

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This. So fucking wasted covering up for everyone else's shit in the middle of the defense.

 

[Huntr]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Highest-graded power five LBs<br>1. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame - 82.0<br>2. Terrel Bernard, Baylor - 81.2<br>3. Nick Bolton, Missouri - 79.9<br>4. Grant Morgan, Arkansas - 79.8<br>5. Jalen Pitre, Baylor - 79.5 <a href="https://t.co/8RgrH0Nx31">pic.twitter.com/8RgrH0Nx31</a></p>— PFF College (@PFF_College) <a href="https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/1321577754790383616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2020</a></blockquote>

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

I already miss him in 2021

 

[NDRock]

Do we all remember how Jaylon was in some conversations for #1 overall prior to his injury. Wu is faster and is a freak of an LB, but Jaylon was a future HOF’er while at ND.

Hate seeing Jaylon as the poster child for Dallas' poor defense. Don't follow them enough to know what is going on with him or the team. Hope they turn it around on D, for his sake at least.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Hate seeing Jaylon as the poster child for Dallas' poor defense. Don't follow them enough to know what is going on with him or the team. Hope they turn it around on D, for his sake at least.

Apparently cursed to only captain sinking ships.

 

[BeatSC]

JOK test Clemson week

 

[IrishBoognish]

I already miss him in 2021

I came in to say this exactly

 

[PANDFAN]

this guy just can't get enough credit for how much he impacts our defense....this guy blows up every damn screen pass, plays sideline to sideline, covers downfield , effective blitzer and doesn't miss tackles...

 

[texbender]

Hate seeing Jaylon as the poster child for Dallas' poor defense. Don't follow them enough to know what is going on with him or the team. Hope they turn it around on D, for his sake at least.

He has been criticized for poor play and lack of leadership. He does seem to get caught out of position more than you would like, and with a poor surrounding cast it is inevitable that the critics will zero in on the "leaders". Was moved from Mike to Will this year to allow for more freelance, but the overall D truly sucks. His habit of celebrating after what is viewed as a play that should be made has also drawn hoots.

 

[Rack Em]

Gonna call it now: Some teams in the draft are going to pass over him because they see him like a Jabril Peppers tweener.

Some team is going to grab him and use him like a Miles Jack chess piece and be very happy with that decision because he's a rare 3 down LB. He can cover the TE as well as the RB on the wheel route as well as set the edge for a S to make a tackle.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Gonna call it now: Some teams in the draft are going to pass over him because they see him like a Jabril Peppers tweener.

Some team is going to grab him and use him like a Miles Jack chess piece and be very happy with that decision because he's a rare 3 down LB. He can cover the TE as well as the RB on the wheel route as well as set the edge for a S to make a tackle.

I thought the reason Peppers fell is that people were hyping him up for years as a great versatile big safety who can cover, when in actuality he wasn't too great in coverage at Michigan?

Wu is a speedy modern linebacker. If he can get up to 235, he's definitely getting drafted high. Lots of smaller linebackers have come out, between Lavonte David 8 years ago, Deion Jones, Devin White etc more recently. Plus Isaiah Simmons last year, though Wu obviously isn't as versatile as Simmons.

 

[GowerND11]

He has been criticized for poor play and lack of leadership. He does seem to get caught out of position more than you would like, and with a poor surrounding cast it is inevitable that the critics will zero in on the "leaders". Was moved from Mike to Will this year to allow for more freelance, but the overall D truly sucks. His habit of celebrating after what is viewed as a play that should be made has also drawn hoots.

He's best at the Will. No idea why you'd move him from there...

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

Gonna call it now: Some teams in the draft are going to pass over him because they see him like a Jabril Peppers tweener.

Some team is going to grab him and use him like a Miles Jack chess piece and be very happy with that decision because he's a rare 3 down LB. He can cover the TE as well as the RB on the wheel route as well as set the edge for a S to make a tackle.

Hope he gets picked by a team that knows how to use him. He'll should be OK no matter where he goes but he is an absolute eraser in space, and considering how TE's and RB's are used these days is a huge asset.

 

[BobbyMac]

I don't think anyone will skip him.

The NFL game is coming to him and those of his skillset.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

ESPN insider Kiper & McShay did a mock top 10 draft together. They came to consensus that JOK will be drafted at #10 to Denver.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2021/insider/story/_/id/30469082/nfl-mock-draft-2021-kiper-mcshay-predict-top-10-picks-debating-trevor-lawrence-justin-fields-more

 

[dublinirish]

http://sportswriters.net/fwaa/news/2020/nagurski201209.html

2020 BRONKO NAGURSKI TROPHY FINALISTS UNVEILED
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (FWAA) – Five finalists for the 2020 Bronko Nagurski Trophy representing five conferences, the top two teams in the current College Football Playoff rankings and two others from nationally-ranked Group of Five schools, were named Wednesday by the Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club.

These are the candidates for the award honoring college football's national defensive player of the year. Each of the five finalists – two linebackers, a defensive end, a defensive tackle and a cornerback – plays for a nationally-ranked team, four of which will play in their conference championship games and includes the first finalist from the Sun Belt Conference.

In alphabetical order, the finalists are Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins, Coastal Carolina defensive end Tarron Jackson, Iowa defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon, Notre Dame linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain II.


The recipient of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy presented by LendingTree will be chosen from these finalists. The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the association's entire membership, selects the best defensive player in college football. The announcement of the 2020 Bronko Nagurski Trophy recipient will take take place on Wed., Dec. 23, two weeks from today.

Here is a look at the 2020 finalists:

Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa (6-4, 260, Jr., Hominy, Okla.): Collins is one of the most dynamic linebackers in the nation. He earned the American Athletic Conference’s Defensive Player of the Week four times after his seven games this season and the Bronko Nagurski Player of the Week award the week of Nov. 14. Heading into the AAC Championship Game, Collins has 11.5 tackles for loss and ties for fifth nationally with four interceptions – tops among linebackers along with two others – one of which he returned 96 yards for a touchdown in overtime for the winning score against Tulane, and another that was a game-clincher against then-No. 19 SMU. In Tulsa’s opening games against then-No. 11 Oklahoma State and the following week’s No. 11 UCF, he combined for 7.5 TFL’s, 3.0 sacks and a tackle for a safety. Collins is Tulsa’s first Nagurski Trophy finalist. The American Athletic Conference has Temple linebacker Tyler Matakevich as a former winner in 2015, and Collins is the AAC’s fourth all-time finalist, the most recent being Houston tackle Ed Oliver in 2017.

Tarron Jackson, DE, Coastal Carolina (6-2, 260, Sr., Aiken, S.C.): Jackson leads the Chanticleers’ defense with 8.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss and is fifth on the team with 44 total tackles with 15 quarterback hurries. He is a three-time Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Week, spearheading a defense that has a nose for the ball with 32.0 sacks (fifth nationally) and 66.0 TFL’s this season. Teams run to the other side away from this team captain who is Coastal’s career leader in sacks (26.5), TFL’s (43.0) and hurries (31) as well as yards lost from those stops. The 10-0 Chanticleers’ rise to their first national ranking, first division championship, first wins (two) over nationally-ranked teams and first 10-win season has his footprint on it, as do opposing backfields. Jackson is Coastal Carolina’s first Nagurski Trophy finalist and the first in Sun Belt Conference history. Jackson, together with Collins, gives Group of Five schools six all-time Nagurski Trophy finalists; it's also the the first time that two non-Power 5 finalists have been so recognized in the same season.

Daviyon Nixon, DT, Iowa (6-3, 305, Jr., Kenosha, Wis.): Nixon is the rare playmaker tucked in the middle of Iowa’s line. He has broken through consistent double-teams to lead the Big Ten with 5.0 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss in just seven games in his first season on the Iowa front. His 36 tackles are tied for the most among Big Ten defensive linemen. Nixon opened the season with seven tackles at Purdue and then posted a career-high 11 against West Division champion Northwestern, and his 71-yard interception return for a touchdown at Penn State remains a national season highlight. Iowa has not had a Nagurski Trophy winner but linebackers Josey Jewell (2017) and Pat Angerer (2009) are recent finalists. A Nixon win would give the Big Ten consecutive honorees after not having a trophy winner since 2006 and Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis. Ohio State defensive end Chase Young won last year.

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame (6-1, 215, Sr., Hampton, Va.): A top linebacker and one of the country’s best ball hawks, Owusu-Koramoah leads the unbeaten and second-ranked Irish in tackles (49 with 32 solos) and tackles for loss (9.0) along with 1.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and an interception. Listed as a rover linebacker, Owusu-Koramoah earned the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Player of the Week (Nov. 7) following the Irish’s win over No. 1 Clemson, posting nine tackles, two TFL’s, a half-sack in overtime that helped stall Clemson’s final possession, and the first touchdown of his career on a 23-yard scoop-and-score early in that game. Notre Dame has one previous winner, linebacker Manti Te’o in 2012, while cornerback Shane Walton was a finalist in 2002. An Owusu-Koramoah win would give the ACC two of the last four winners (N.C. State’s Bradley Chubb in 2017) and five of the last 11.

Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama (6-2, 202, Jr., Plantation, Fla.): Surtain is regarded as the nation’s top cornerback and presents a consistent wall out on the edge, having allowed 25 yards or fewer in eight of nine games this season. Teams have targeted him only 36 times with 14 completions over nine games and he has allowed only one touchdown this season. Opposing quarterbacks have a passer rating of 50.2 when targeting Surtain in coverage, fifth-best in the FBS. Against pass-happy Mississippi State, Surtain was targeted once in 47 attempts, and the junior turned it into a 25-yard pick-six. Top-ranked Alabama has had one Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner, defensive end Jonathan Allen in 2016. The Crimson Tide has had a finalist in nine of the last 10 seasons, most recently nose guard Quinnen Williams (2018), safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (2017) and linebacker Reuben Foster (2016). Going back to cornerback Antonio Langham in the award’s first year in 1993, five of Alabama’s 12 all-time finalists have come from the secondary. A Surtain win would give the SEC three of the last five honorees (Allen in 2016, Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen in 2018).

The FWAA has chosen a National Defensive Player of the Year since 1993. In 1995, the FWAA named the award in honor of the legendary two-way player from the University of Minnesota. Nagurski dominated college football then became a star for professional football's Chicago Bears in the 1930s. Bronislaw "Bronko" Nagurski is a charter member of both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame.

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit ncfaa.org and @NCFAA on Twitter to learn more about the association.

Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of 1,300 men and women who cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game-day operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com.

About the Charlotte Touchdown Club
The Charlotte Touchdown Club is a non-profit organization founded in 1990 for the purpose of promoting high school, collegiate, and professional football in the Charlotte, N.C., region. The club's activities and services focus community attention on the outstanding citizenship, scholarship, sportsmanship, and leadership of area athletes and coaches. Since 1990, the club has raised more than $2 million to benefit area high school and collegiate athletics. For more information, contact John Rocco (704-347-2918 or jrocco@touchdownclub.com). The official website of the Charlotte Touchdown Club is touchdownclub.com.

About LendingTree, Inc.
LendingTree is the nation's leading online marketplace that connects consumers with the choices they need to be confident in their financial decisions. LendingTree empowers consumers to shop for financial services the same way they would shop for airline tickets or hotel stays, by comparing multiple offers from a nationwide network of over 500 partners in one simple search and choosing the option that best fits their financial needs. Services include mortgage loans, mortgage refinances, auto loans, personal loans, business loans, student refinances, credit cards, insurance and more. Through the My LendingTree platform, consumers receive free credit scores, credit monitoring and recommendations to improve credit health. My LendingTree proactively compares consumers' credit accounts against offers on their network and notifies consumers when there is an opportunity to save money. LendingTree's purpose is to help simplify financial decisions for life's meaningful moments through choice, education and support.

 

[NewEnglandGuy]

Another column started with:

Cornerback Patrick Surtain II of No. 1 Alabama and linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah of No. 2 Notre Dame lead the finalists, along with Coastal Carolina defensive end Tarron Jackson, Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins and Iowa defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon.

Seemingly Surtain vs JOK. Surtains stats below:

Tackles D Fumbles
G Solo Ast Tot Loss Sk Int Yds Avg TD PD FR Yds TD FF
9 13 13 26 2.0 0.0 1 25 25.0 1 4 0 0 0 0

So 26 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 INT as a DB (it was a pick 6), 4 passes defended, and zero fumbles forced or recovered.

JOK below:

Tackles D Fumbles
G Solo Ast Tot Loss Sk Int Yds Avg TD PD FR Yds TD FF
10 32 17 49 9.0 1.5 1 0 0.0 0 3 2 1 3

So 49 tackles, 9 for loss with 1.5 sacks, 1 INT as a LB, 3 passes defended, 3 fumbles forced and 2 fumbles recovered, 1 for a TD.

I would like to think he has a strong chance of winning the award.

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

Never watched a ton of Isaiah Simmons but the comparisons are bound to come, anybody have an informed take? I'm assuming he'll have elite athleticism numbers rather than the "that shouldn't be humanly possible" numbers Simmons put up.

 

[Valpodoc85]

Who thinks JOK is a generational player like Q or Jaylon?

 

[ndbroski]

Who thinks JOK is a generational player like Q or Jaylon?

The potential is there, but would you really call Jaylon a generational talent like Q is?

 

[arndtjc]

The potential is there, but would you really call Jaylon a generational talent like Q is?

Unequivocally yes

 

[Valpodoc85]

Jaylon was prior to the knee injury. Remember he was playing for BVG. He would have been all world for Lea