Scotland's David Ojabo 'destined' to become an NFL star

Scottish NFL draft prospect David Ojabo said it is his destiny to make it as a professional American football player.

The 21-year-old from Aberdeen is taking part in the annual NFL Combine, where players are put through a series of tests and interviews.

Ojabo, who declared he was entering the draft after just one year playing full-time college football for Michigan, said he hopes that teams see his potential.

The pass rusher, whose role on the field is to get to the quarterback and stop him from throwing the ball, enjoyed a meteoric rise during the season and is now predicted to be one of the first players selected next month.

Ojabo has spoken to a number of teams this week who are interested in drafting him, including the Los Angeles Chargers, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Giants.

Speaking to the media at the combine in Indianapolis, he said: “I want to showcase my athletic ability, how good I can move and how versatile I am.

“[The scouts] are just trying to get to know me, I wasn’t really on the scene last year and they are just trying to figure out who David Ojabo is.

“I’m a Scottish guy, born in Nigeria, who is just trying to learn this sport and then be the best at it.

“I’m sure they see [my potential] and I have got myself here! So I am sure they see something.

“I am just getting started. I’ve only played one year of true college football so I am just learning.”

Ojabo grew up in Aberdeen after moving to Scotland with his family as a child.

He moved to a high school in New Jersey as a teenager initially to chase his dream of playing basketball.

The 6ft 5in tall, 250lb defender told reporters that his main concern moving to the USA was safety and he chose New Jersey for his schooling because of its tight restrictions on guns.

Ojabo said: “I lived in Scotland from the age of seven until I was 15. They are calm people and I miss that aspect of the country.

“For one there are no guns in Scotland, it is safe. I know my family is safe there.

“I’ve seen my sister walk into town with her headphones in and come back untouched. I wouldn’t let her do that anywhere here [in the USA].”

Recalling his time playing sport in Scotland he said he believes it gave him the versatility to make the most of his impressive physical attributes.

He said: “I played a bit of recreational rugby in Scotland, nothing serious, just messing about with my friends.

“I played soccer so I am good with my feet. I played basketball so I am good with my hands.

“The toughest thing when I took up football was definitely the contact aspect.

“Coming from basketball, if you bump someone too hard that’s a foul. In soccer if you bump someone too hard that’s a foul. Then in football if you’re not bumping somebody then you’re not playing!

“This year has been crazy but I just know it is destiny. I came over here with one goal and that was to make it. I was a 15-year-old and I knew there was something out there for me.

“I had a dream and I knew I was going to make it somehow.”