Ex-Penn State Football CB among NFL’s best in this category

Former Penn State Football cornerback Amani Oruwariye just capped the most productive season of his young career, and the Detroit Lions’ starter was among the best in the league in the red zone

Former Penn State cornerback Amani Oruwariye is coming off the most productive season of his career, and has carved out a niche in the Detroit Lions‘ secondary, while finishing among the NFL’s best inside the 20-yard line.

According to Pro Football Focus, Oruwariye was the fourth-highest graded cornerback inside the red zone this season, producing a 77.7 grade.

This season saw Oruwariye — the Lions’ fifth-round pick in 2019 — begin to come into his own, playing 1,028 total snaps, including 589 in coverage. He produced 48 solo tackles, and intercepted a pass while allowing just 42 receptions in the 76 times he was targeted.

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At times this season, due to injuries to Marcus Trufant and No. 3 overall pick Jeffrey Okudah, Oruwariye was forced inside to play nickel for the Lions. During his career at Penn State Football, Oruwariye was primarily an outside cornerback.

Despite being forced into multiple positions, Oruwariye finished with a 68.6 pass-rush grade from Pro Football Focus and a 52.5 coverage mark.

Whether it was lining up outside or in the slot, Oruwariye says he welcomed the additional playing time in 2020.

"“I just control what I can control,” Oruwariye said, via the Detroit Free Press. “Like if I just go out there and put my best foot forward and make plays, then however it shakes out it shakes out. So I don’t want to really worry too much about that. I just want to control what I can do.”"