NFL Draft 2021: Penn State Football’s Jayson Oweh one of class’s top run-stoppers

Penn State Football defensive end Jayson Oweh’s decision to enter declare for the NFL Draft has generated some controversy in recent weeks, particularly from ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., who questioned whether he made the right choice.

However, while Oweh had limited production in 2020 as one of the Nittany Lions‘ starting defensive end, he is one of the higher-graded prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft class.

Pro Football Focus gives Oweh an 85.4 overall grade, but the outlet was even more favorable of Oweh’s ability to stop the run, awarding him an even more impressive 89.8 mark as one of the highest-graded prospects.

Meanwhile, NFL Draft Bible analyst Ric Serritella lists Oweh as the No. 4 ranked defensive end prospect in the class.

Oweh, 6-foot-5 and 252 pounds, is viewed by many evaluators across the NFL as having tremendous upside due to his athleticism and explosiveness off the line of scrimmage.

One of the biggest questions facing Oweh will be if he can retain that speed and explosiveness if he’s asked to bulk up to play with his hand in the dirt at the NFL level, or if he has the ability to stand up in coverage when asked to.

Oweh did not flash statistically as a sophomore, producing just 38 total tackles without a sack. He finished his two-plus seasons in Happy Valley with 63 total tackles, seven sacks, two forced fumbles, and a pair of pass breakups.

Penn State Football’s Pro Day, and how Oweh performs in the 40-yard dash and various on-field drills will go a long way towards determining whether he will sneak into the bottom-half of the first-round of April’s NFL Draft.