UCLA defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa has a scheduled visit next week with the New Orleans Saints, a team that needs a pass rusher.
News of the visit was reported by nationalfootballpost.com. Odighizuwa (his name is pronounced "Oh-wuh-MAH-bay Oh-DIGGY-zoo-wuh") has also visited with the Dallas Cowboys.
Odighizuwa (6-foot-3 1/2, 267 pounds) was a national top-20 prospect in 2010 out of high school in Portland, Ore., but was a fulltime starter at UCLA for just one season, in 2014 as a senior. He missed the '13 season with injuries to both hips.
Odighizuwa is known more for his ability to hold up against the run than his pass-rush skills. He tested well at the NFL Scouting Combine, running a 4.62 40-yard dash and turning in a vertical jump of 39 inches and a broad jump of 10 feet, 7 inches. But he didn't always flash that athleticism on the field for the Bruins; he had 12.5 sacks in his four-season career, with six of those coming in 2014.
He appears to be able to be a 4-3 end or a 3-4 outside linebacker.
The Saints have two first-round picks; Odighizuwa is not worthy of the No. 13 overall selection, but he might interest the Saints at No. 31. One reason? Nebraska's Randy Gregory.
Gregory is considered one of the best edge rushers in this draft, but his positive drug test at the combine seems likely to cause him to slide in the draft. That, in turn, could mean that teams needing edge rushers will bypass Gregory and perhaps reach for a player or two -- and that could benefit Odighizuwa. Remember, the demand for edge rushers is such that teams often are willing to overlook relatively subpar college production and gamble on potential.
Odighizuwa also could be available when the Saints pick 12th in the second round (44th overall); that draft position is more in line with where he is expected to be selected.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
