Scouting the 2021 NFL Draft: Jayson Oweh, Edge, Penn State

Jayson Oweh scouting report

Penn State redshirt sophomore edge defender Jayson Oweh made a relatively surprising decision to turn pro at the end of the 2020 college football season despite limited production as a pass rusher and an overall underdeveloped skill set. Still, NFL teams will be attracted to his natural athleticism and physical makeup, which alone should push him into the early rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Oweh joined the Nittany Lions program as a four-star recruit from Blair Academy in New Jersey. He recorded 13 sacks and 10 tackles for loss as a high school senior and was rated as the fifth-best player in New Jersey during his recruiting cycle.

Oweh’s playing time at Penn State steadily increased during his three years on campus and included seven starts in the COVID-19-shortened season in 2020. He finished the season with 38 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss but failed to register a sack in his final year in Happy Valley. In 2019, Oweh made one start and appeared in all 13 games. He totaled 21 tackles, five tackles for loss, and five sacks. Oweh appeared in four games as a true freshman in 2018.

Physically, Oweh is an impressive prospect at 6-5, 252 pounds. He has very good length for the position and has a frame that’s capable of adding weight. His legs are thick but there’s room to fill out in his upper half.

Athletically, Oweh was included in Bruce Feldman’s annual Freaks List because of his reported 4.33 40-yard dash, 4.9 percent body fat, vertical jump of 36.5 inches. Assuming those numbers are accurate, Oweh is in rare territory as an athlete. Numbers like these get guys drafted in the top 50 regardless of their tape, and that could end up being the case with Oweh this year.

Oweh has a lot of developing to do as a pass rusher. His arsenal of rush moves is extremely limited right now and if he doesn’t win with speed off the snap, he has little chance of getting to the quarterback. He doesn’t possess the hand-play or counter moves needed to free himself from opposing linemen and while it’s certainly a skill he can develop in the league, he’ll need patience and extensive coaching. When Oweh does win off the snap, he’s quick to the corner and bendy around the edge. There are flashes of jaw-dropping potential, but they’re few and far between right now. Rarely do I suggest a player’s box score tells the full story of his season, but Oweh’s lacking sack numbers are a good indicator of where he is right now as a prospect.

Oweh’s play against the run leaves a bit to be desired too. He isn’t the most disciplined player and struggles at times to read and react to counters and misdirection plays. His athletic ability helps him recover, but he won’t be able to rely on his speed and quickness alone in the NFL. His tackling skill set, while reliable, doesn’t have the kind of thump or pop you’d expect from a 250-pound athlete like Oweh.

Overall, Oweh will be valued as an NFL prospect because of his baseline athleticism and his youth. He’s just 20 years old and his best football is ahead of him. Had he returned to school for another season, he would’ve began next year as one of the top 25 players to watch. NFL teams will know that, too, and factor things like the coronavirus and shortened season when assessing his production in 2020. Oweh is a gamble right now. A general manager will bet on his upside instead of his film, and sometimes that works. The NFL is a fast man’s game, and Oweh certainly checks that box. He’s the kind of player coaches will bang the table for because of his rare traits. As a result, I expect he’ll be a Day-2 pick with Day-1 upside. It’ll just take a bit of time to get there.

GRADE: 7.5 (2nd round)

Bryan Perez

Bryan is the founder of Pro Football Draft. His work has been featured on The Draft Network, NBC Sports and USA Today. Former CFL scout.

Follow him on Twitter: @BryanPerezNFL