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With five former Texas Longhorns teammates off to the 2018 NFL Draft, junior defensive end Charles Omenihu tweeted on Thursday that he is “still deciding” about his future despite an earlier report that he will return to school.
The 6’7, 280-pounder was one of numerous Longhorns to ask for a grade from the NFL Draft Advisory Board, which now uses a simplified rating system — first round, second round, or neither.
And though it’s not known what evaluation Omenihu received, the most likely scenario is that he received a “neither” grade. However, if the Rowlett product believes that an NFL team would still select him at some point during the draft, he could still opt to leave school and be one year closer to his second contract, all while having more time to develop in an NFL strength and conditioning program and under NFL coaching.
Playing as a four technique defensive end for coordinator Todd Orlando this season, Omenihu recorded 28 tackles, seven tackles for loss, four sacks, four quarterback hurries, and two forced fumbles.
Omenihu achieved that production after starting every game except for Baylor and increasing his numbers across the board. Playing heads up over the offensive tackle isn’t a position that provides a lot of opportunity for gaudy stats, but Omenihu was able to make an impact with his rare combination of length, size, and athleticism.
If Omenihu decides to forgo his senior season of eligibility, it will be because he believes an NFL team will take on chance on that rare combination that results in considerable upside.