Portal Scouting Notes | DE RJ Oben
It’s not easy to find quality defensive linemen in the portal and it’s even harder to find any who have the experience that can match former Duke defensive end RJ Oben.
He’s played a ton of games against ACC competition and he has proven pass rush ability. He could head to the NFL and be drafted this upcoming spring, but he’s choosing to use his extra year of eligibility to try and enhance his standing. I’m sure the NIL opportunities and a chance to play at a more prominent program is a motivation as well.
He plays a position of need for Notre Dame that is wide open with the loss of Javontae Jean-Baptiste to the NFL and NaNa Osafo-Mensah to the transfer portal. He’d be a plug and play starter if he ends up at Notre Dame.
Duke Edge RJ Oben
- 6-4 260
- 6th year player in 2024
- 1,494 career snaps
- Over 30 career starts
- son of former NFL OL Roman Oben
- Led Duke with 27 pressures, had 37 in in ‘22 and 29 in ‘21
- NFL traits, long with above average twitch
- invited to Senior Bowl, projected day 3 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
- 17.6% win rate vs true pass sets, 17.8 in ‘22 and 22% in ‘21
- 7 havoc plays in ‘23, 8.5 in ‘22
- good hands, displays ability to win with a variety of initial moves
- good feel with counters when tackles over set
- solid motor
- can win inside and rush as a 3-tech in sub-packages, might be his best spot
- inconsistent vs the run, but ability to set the edge
- can use his length better to disengage from blocks quicker
- 31 inch vert at 239 pounds as a recruit
Oben played more snaps and had more total production at Duke than JJB had at Ohio State, but they aren’t all that different in terms of traits and being plus pass rushers with a lot to prove as run defenders.
JJB proved himself as a run defender this past season at Notre Dame. He showed tremendous development while working with Al Washington and JJB became a true every down defender. He was credited with 20 run stops* this season for Notre Dame. That’s how many Oben had in the last three seasons combined at Duke.
*Stops are plays that are considered a failure for an offense. A tackle preventing a tackle for a one yard gain on 3rd and 2 is a stop. A tackle for three yards on 3rd and 2 is not a stop.
Oben could be capable of making the same kind of jump as a run defender that JJB made. Oben has already proved capable of being a pass rusher who can step in and contribute for Notre Dame on 3rd down based on everything he did at Duke.
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