NFL Draft 2021: Penn State Football’s Jayson Oweh draws high praise from PFF

Jayson Oweh #28 of the Penn State Nittany Lions (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Jayson Oweh #28 of the Penn State Nittany Lions (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

Penn State Football defensive end Jayson Oweh’s stock in the 2021 NFL Draft continues to rise at a meteoric pace.

Despite limited production in Happy Valley last season, Oweh is viewed by many in the NFL as one of the premier edge rushers in this year’s class, thanks in large part to his freakish athleticism and upside.

Pro Football Focus lists Oweh as the outlet’s No. 2 ranked edge rusher prospect, giving him an 80.3 pass-rush grade, 89.8 run-stopping grade, and an 18.9 pass-rush win rate ahead of the draft.

“You can’t keep players with Oweh’s level of freakish tools away from the quarterback,” PFF says in its annual NFL Draft guide. “He’s only scratching the surface.”

Oweh, 6-foot-5 and 252 pounds, certainly has all of the tools to thrive as a pass rusher in the NFL, but his ceiling will likely be determined if he can maintain his explosiveness off the snap if asked to bulk up as a defensive end.

As a sophomore in 2020, Oweh produced 38 total tackles and one pass breakup, but did not produce a sack for the Nittany Lions.

PFF lists Oweh as the No. 19 overall prospect in this class, and believes that scouts and NFL coaches should look back his middling numbers this season.

"“Physically different,” PFF says in its scouting report of Oweh. “[The] type of get off and speed that you don’t see in every draft class.”"

During his three year collegiate career, with one season as a full-time starter, Oweh produced seven sacks and forced two fumbles with 63 total tackles.

Potentially a top-25 pick in this year’s class, some team is going to get a high upside pass rusher by taking Oweh in the first-round.