Brian Orakpo was the No. 1 guy on the 2008 Freaks list for, among other things, benching 514 pounds and vertical jumping 42 inches. His kid brother Mike's athleticism -- in a slightly smaller frame -- is equally eye-popping. The younger Orakpo, at 6-2 and 233 pounds, benches just about 100 pounds more than twice his body weight (560) and incline benches 500 along with a 375-pound power clean, according to TXST coaches. He also has vertical jumped 41.5 inches and been timed at 4.53 in the 40.
New TXST defensive coordinator John Thompson, who has spent three decades in college football including stints at many of the biggest SEC programs, said Orakpo's rare combination of strength and agility reminded him some of Alabama great Derrick Thomas (Thompson was a linebackers coach at Bama when the Hall of Famer played for the Tide.) "This is a guy who can play in pass coverage and also you could play at 5-Technique versus a 300-pounder and he can get his hands inside him," said Thompson. "Derrick Thomas was one of the few guys who I'd ever been around who could do that, but Mike can too. He's so sudden and so strong and just has phenomenal leverage."
In 2013, Orakpo had 10 TFLs and 4.5 sacks, but this fall Thompson plans on playing him at inside linebacker, which he feels is more of a natural role for him.
(This post was last modified: 07-07-2014 03:53 PM by Cajuncat.)
I think he is going the be that out of nowhere guy that puts up crazy numbers at the combine and his draft stock skyrockets. I don't think he will get the same bump as Dontari Poe and jump to a first rounder but he will get a bump
