Running back Devine Ozigbo signed as an undrafted free agent with the New Orleans Saints following the conclusion of the 2019 NFL Draft.
WHO DAT‼️⚜️ as if I needed anymore motivation.
— Huncho ZIG⚡️ (@TrulyDevine_22) April 27, 2019
Ozigbo wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine and that came as a shock to plenty. In 10 games his junior season, with 129 carries, Ozigbo hit for 3.8 yards a tote. He totaled 493 yards rushing as the ground game for Nebraska sputtered. During his senior season, though, he bumped his average to 7.0 yards a carry and became the Huskers’ first 1,000-yard rusher in three years.
The knock on Ozigbo throughout college was that he wasn’t fast enough and that he was a one-trick running back. That’s what Scott Frost and his coaching staff were told when they took over at Nebraska in December of 2017.
But Ozigbo worked. About as hard as anyone. Strength coach Zach Duval loved him (Ozigbo earned Lifter of the Year) and Frost wished he had another year with him. Nebraska’s Director of Player Development Ron Brown also saw a lot of persistence from Ozigbo, which will be desirable for any NFL team.
“What a great example of resiliency,” Brown said of Ozigbo on Hail Varsity Radio. “Here’s the thing, he really improved as a player. He kept getting better and better. This year, he did all the little things prior to his senior year that helped make him the very best back that he could be. I just loved how he grinded it out. He refused to just cash it in and point the index finger at some coach for not playing him or getting his just due.”
While he didn’t end up drafted, Ozigbo quickly found a home with the Saints and plenty were happy to celebrate the news on Twitter.
Happy for @TrulyDevine_22 going to the Saints. Prove everyone wrong!
— Ryan Held (@CoachRHeld) April 27, 2019
*Saints GM: “Hey Drew, who do you think we should pick up at running back?”
*Drew Brees looking at a pic of @TrulyDevine_22 : “WHO DAT?” pic.twitter.com/TBv7UHIYca— Wyatt Mazour (@WMazour20) April 27, 2019
