David Ugwoegbu, EDGE, Houston
Size:
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 250 pounds
Arm Length: 33 3/4"
Hand Size: 10 1/4"
Accomplishments:
All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (2022)
“David Ugwoegbu has upside as a developmental edge rusher who has athletic traits as a hybrid defender but he needs to continue to develop his pass-rush plan.”
Strengths:
Hybrid edge defender
Plays with good pad leverage
Quick first step
Can drop into coverage/play in space
Concerns:
Lower-body tightness
Needs to develop pass-rush plan
Improve effectiveness shedding blocks
Film Analysis:
David Ugwoegbu is a versatile hybrid edge defender who is capable of positively contributing in both the run game and as a pass rusher.
Against the run, Ugwoegbu plays with good pad level, which allows him to win the leverage battle and set the edge against some offensive linemen. Ugwoegbu has a quick first step and will use that to quickly get into offensive linemen, collisioning them and then locking them out to read the flow of the play. Ugwoegbu is also a movement player where he can align in different spots along the line of scrimmage and be utilized to blitz or penetrate gaps to be disruptive.
As a pass rusher, Ugwoegbu has quick, violent hands which he uses in hand combat to win pass-rush reps. Ugwoegbu has the bend to win around the edge and on the reps where he wins utilizing his hands, he can quickly and disrupt the quarterback. Ugwoegbu is also athletic enough to be asked to drop into coverage and cover the hook/curl to flat area.
Ugwoegbu's areas for improvement are in both the run game and as a pass rusher. In the run game, Ugwoegbu will show signs of struggling to disengage from blocks and get to the ball-carrier. Ugwoegbu will also commit to attacking in the run game and on occasion run himself out of the play. As a pass rusher, Ugwoegbu appears to need to develop a more detailed and nuanced pass-rush plan. Ugwoegbu has an initial pass rush move of using his hands but if that doesn't win, he stalls at the line of scrimmage. Developing go-to counter moves should allow for him to work to finish reps and potentially have a bigger impact rushing the quarterback.
As of now, Ugwoegbu has upside as a developmental edge rusher who has athletic traits as a hybrid defender but he needs to continue to develop his pass-rush plan.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Role Specific Contributor
Written By: Keith Sanchez
Exposures: TCU (2023), Texas (2023), Texas Tech (2023)
