National Respect Deserved: Tobi Osunsanmi 

Nationally, Tobi Osunsanmi needs to begin getting similar coverage to Colin Simmons at Texas.

Tobi is second in the country in sacks (9) and TFLs (13.5) behind Simmons who has 10.5 sacks and 16 TFLs. Both Osunsanmi (6’2 250lbs) and Simmons (6’3 246lbs) are similar in size.

Simmons is currently projected as a top 10 pick, while Osunsanmi is currently projected as a late 3rd-round pick according to NFL Draft aggregate projections. Some NFL scouts compare him to Dee Ford based on what they have seen. He reminds me of former NFL All-Pro and Pro Bowler Hasson Reddick (6’2 240 lbs) due to similar size and his explosive first step and speed around the corner during his rush. This allows him to get to the quarterback by dipping his hip to get under bigger-framed tackles. Additionally, this allows him to create havoc in the run game to provide tackle for loss opportunities. Like Reddick, Osunsanmi does an excellent job at squeezing down the line of scrimmage when unblocked to create contain while also showing the ability to drop in coverage to the hitch/flat area in zone coverage.

Osunsanmi Breaking Records?

Osunsanmi is on track to break former Indiana Hoosier Greg Middleton’s single-season sack record (16), which was set during the 2007 season.

Osunsanmi has shown that he has an elite ability to set the edge in the run game. He has a knack ability to keep the offensive player on his inside shoulder to keep contain. Osunsanmi has shown that he has a high motor as many of his sacks have come from not giving up on the play and winning by doing his job. Each week, Osunsanmi continues to show his ability to get to the quarterback, averaging two sacks a game over the last two games. He has recorded at least one sack over seven consecutive games.

Osunsanmi was asked why he thinks he has improved personally and how the pass rush has become accelerated over the past couple of games:

“I feel like a lot of sacks come off of effort. I feel like our whole defense just hunts. Every play we hunt. If we are sending pressure, it is expected to hit. We are expected to cause havoc and that is what we are here to do, cause havoc.”

Osunsanmi has done exactly that, causing havoc. His nine sacks are more than what he has produced in total over the past three seasons at Kansas State (8.5). This is the same for his tackle for loss production. He currently has 13.5 TFLs this season which is more than he has produced in total his last three seasons(12.5).

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Indiana’s defense has totaled 28 sacks and 65 tackles for loss (TFLs) this season which both are top ten nationally. Indiana’s defense is only allowing 12.0 points per game which ranks third nationally while only allowing 4.1 yards a play which ranks fourth nationally. Though football is a team sport, Osunsanmi has shown that on Saturdays, he is one of, if not the best player on the field. He has earned the right for more national recognition, and it will be exciting to see him continue to build on the production he has had so far this season as Indiana begins the back stretch of their regular season schedule.