OWINGS MILLS, Md. — David Ojabo said “it means the world” to him to be drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the second round on Friday, exactly six weeks to the day he suffered a devastating hamstring injury of Achille at his Michigan pro. daytime.

Ojabo was considered a potential top-10 pick in this year’s NFL Draft before he was injured during a positional drill on March 18 and crashed to the ground, where he clutched his left leg in pain. . At the time, he was ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. top-rated outside linebacker prospect.

When selected with overall pick No. 45, Ojabo closed his eyes, tilted his head back, and let out a scream. Afterwards, he hugged his family members as tears streamed down his face.

“You saw it, it was raw emotion. Every second of it, I felt it,” Ojabo said. “Just being surrounded by friends and family. It’s a moment I’ll never forget.”

The pass rush is the Ravens’ biggest need, but there’s a chance Baltimore won’t see Ojabo on the field until 2023. Ojabo may have to sit out this season.

Ojabo, who wore a protective boot around his left foot and sat on a sofa on Friday, said he still hoped to play in 2022.

“I’m really hopeful,” he said. “But I can’t predict the future. So I’m just day to day, doing what I’m told and hoping for the best.”

Ojabo said it was his first ever injury.

“It’s a bump in the road,” he said. “Just another obstacle that I will overcome.”

Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta says team doctors haven’t seen Ojabo since medical, but they’re ‘optimistic that at some point this year he’ll have a chance to play’ .

DeCosta acknowledged that he thought Ojabo would be a viable first-round pick for the Ravens after seeing him play in the fall.

Last season, Ojabo delivered 11 sacks and five forced fumbles (which led all Power 5 players) in his only full season of college football.

Ojabo is heading to Baltimore, where he has a lot of familiarity. When he’s healthy, he’ll team up with former high school teammate Odafe Oweh, the Ravens’ first pick a year ago, to form a promising tandem.

On his Instagram, Odafe posted, “I might be a movie!!”

Ojabo also reunites with Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, who served as his defensive coordinator at Michigan last season.

“It’s all part of the plan,” Ojabo said. “What are the odds that the person who comes along and gives me a chance to play is ultimately the guy I’m next level as well. It’s meant to be.”