It did not take long for Ruke Orhorhoro to come off the board on Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft.
The former Clemson defensive tackle had a short wait to hear his name called after the draft resumed Friday night, as the Atlanta Falcons took him with the third pick in the second round (35th overall).
Following Orhorhoro’s selection, longtime ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. weighed in on the pick and discussed what the impressive 6-foot-4, 294-pound athlete — who caught everybody’s eye with his standout showing at the NFL Scouting Combine this spring — will bring to the ATL.
A basketball player as a youth and in high school, Orhorhoro played just two years of high school football. He was born in Nigeria before coming to the United States when he was nine, and did not play his first football game until the fall of 2017.
“Born in Nigeria, nine years old, he comes to the United States and he goes through the prep ranks in Michigan,” Kiper said. “He was a basketball player, no football till his junior year in high school. Smart kid. 6-4, 294 pounds with long arms. Ran 4.89 at the combine with a 32(-inch) vertical.”
Orhorhoro was a third-team All-ACC selection last season, when he tallied 22 tackles (8.0 for loss), a career-high 5.0 sacks and a pass breakup across 12 games (all starts).
Along with 12 career sacks, Orhorhoro was credited with 97 tackles (25.5 for loss), nine pass breakups and two fumble recoveries over 53 games (30 starts) in his college career spanning 2019-23.
“He didn’t have great production. … But he showed flashes of brilliance,” Kiper said. “He needs to add polish to his pass rush arsenal, get that secondary move in fast fashion, better job of disengaging from blocks. But I tell you what, when he’s on his game, he can explode into that backfield. He’s got length, he’s got strength and he’s got the desire.”
Orhorhoro certainly fit the bill of a player on the rise heading into the draft, and Kiper believes the best is yet to come for Orhorhoro, who has only scratched the surface of what he can be at the next level.
“He’s a guy who certainly was moving up and people were looking at potential and what he could be if he’s coached and gets more experience,” Kiper said. “As I said, didn’t start playing high school football until his junior year. All basketball till then. But he’s got a tremendous work ethic. Great kid, smart.”
Orhorhoro became the 79th NFL Draft selection in Dabo Swinney’s head coaching tenure and the 12th second-round pick of his tenure. He is also the ninth Clemson defensive lineman selected in the first two rounds of a draft since the 2015 NFL Draft.
Orhorhoro was the second Clemson product selected in this year’s draft, joining cornerback Nate Wiggins, who was taken in the first round (30th overall) by the Baltimore Ravens.
A limited number of signed footballs from Clemson’s 2022 class are still available. Get yours while supplies last! Visit Clemson Variety & Frame or purchase online!
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