Brian Asamoah is one of the under-the-radar prospects for the 2022 NFL Draft class. With Pro Football Focus listing the Oklahoma linebacker at 39th on their draft board, it is hard not to take a deeper look. Perrion Winfrey opened the eyes of many at the Senior Bowl. The big takeaway was why wasn’t he this productive at Oklahoma? It may have been the defensive scheme that limited these defenders all along, so let’s dive into the tape and find out.
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Player Bio
Name: Brian Asamoah
Jersey: No. 24
Position: Linebacker
School: Oklahoma
Class: Redshirt Junior
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 226 lbs
Games Watched: Oklahoma State (2021), Baylor (2021), Texas (2021), TCU (2020)
Major Injury History: None
Player Breakdown
Instincts (13.5/15)
Asamoah knows what is going on at almost all times. When compared to his teammate, Winfrey, it is night and day. Being able to identify option runs properly comes easy as well as play action. The potentially major concern is the instincts in the run game. Asamoah was noted as blindly running into gaps on occasion. Of course, this is a nitpick rather than a legitimate red flag, unless the frequency increases.
Tackling (14/15)
With a 7.4 percent missed tackle rate (three of the seven missed tackles in Week 1) and an 84.3 PFF tackle grade, tackling is not a concern. Asamoah massively improved this percentage from years prior, however, so there is a history of missed tackles. Factoring out the first week in 2021, he boasted a six percent missed tackle rate (67 tackles, four missed). When understanding how fast Asamoah closes on the ball carrier, that is ridiculous. In short, there is absolutely no reason tackling should become an issue at some point.
Block Shedding (7.25/10)
Asamoah is not going to be an elite block shedder. His instincts will be able to evade these concerns for sure, so do not fret about selecting the Oklahoma product. Asamoah is not a liability in the run game, he is just not an elite threat. Why should Asamoah be the primary run defender anyway? He won’t, simply put. The former Sooner will be a weak inside linebacker, so his role will not need to focus on this too much. Again, do not worry.
Run Defense (8/10)
This is sort of a repeat category of block shedding. Factoring in instincts in the run game, at least the score can be improved a bit. With proper pursuit angles, high football IQ, and solid athleticism, Asamoah is primed to be a contributor with proper training. Run defense is not exactly what a team expects from this style of linebacker, but the Oklahoma product will not be a liability. Once again, do not fear. Asamoah can play.
Pursuit/Closing Speed (9.5/10)
He is noted as being a “see-ball, get-ball linebacker” by NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein. The tape surely supports that. The Oklahoma product takes correct pursuit angles at an outstanding rate. Only Nakobe Dean beats Asamoah in this class, with Leo Chenal and Devin Lloyd close behind. The athleticism is outstanding too, making it easy for him to track down the ball carrier. All around, Asamoah is a stud. The 36.5-inch vertical and 124-inch broad jump also shines a light on the explosiveness.
Pass Rush Ability (9/10)
Asamoah is not on Dean’s level, but he certainly flashes high-upside pass-rush ability. The instincts, technique, and athleticism provide a very solid base for growth. Asamoah may get eight sacks in his rookie year. Prepare for a bargain deal on a slightly-downgraded Dean. The sky is truly the limit here.
Man Coverage (9.5/10)
Apart from Brandon Smith, no one is as ‘sticky’ in man coverage as Asamoah is. The hip fluidity, change-of-direction speed, quick-twitch instincts, and solid straight-line speed create an amazing foundation. Cover zero blitzes could allow the Oklahoma product to remain in coverage and lock down the check-down options. That is a major asset. Watch out for the New York Giants to find Asamoah as an attractive option. Wink Martindale is blitz-heavy, relying heavily on man coverage. This is the bread and butter of this prospect, even if the stats don’t fully support it.
Zone Coverage (7/10)
This is the worst category by far for Asamoah. While his instincts are top tier in man coverage and in the run game, the former Sooner appears uncomfortable in a zone. Of course, this can change. With proper training and experience, Asamoah can certainly become more comfortable commanding a zone. That will take time, though. Zone coverage ability is not a necessity with certain schemes, especially ones like the Giants. This may drop Asamoah’s stock, as he could appear scheme-specific.
Ball Skills (4.25/5)
Asamoah has only had one interception in his career, but he has lacked the opportunity to truly flash in this category. Again, the coaching appears to be a major setback for the Oklahoma defenders. This may be one category that suffers from that. Just be patient with Asamoah, and he may surprise in time. Usage at the next level will determine the learning curve, but the tools are there.
Versatility (4.5/5)
He has solid tools everywhere. Apart from zone coverage and block shedding, he is extremely well-rounded. If used properly, Asamoah can be a versatile contributor. The untapped potential solidifies a high score in this category. The size is not ideal, but the talent is. Just keep holding onto hope that the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma misused the defenders. Time will tell with this category.
Player Summary
Asamoah is a dark horse elite talent. The major scouting issue has to deal with the Big 12 and his usage at Oklahoma. The ambiguity is a catch-22, either Asamoah will boom or bust out thanks to the lack of translatable information available. With the raw athletic tools and the high-end instincts, though, the probability is that the former Sooner will boom. A late first-round pick is far from a reach given the upside.
Rookie Projections: Starting Weak Inside Linebacker
Third Year Projections: Top-20 Weak Inside Linebacker
Final Grade (86.5/100): Late First-Round Pick
Player Comp: Fred Warner
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