BJ RAJI
ARPER
BOSTON COLLEGE
#90
PROJECTION: Top 20 Overall COMPARISON: -
CLASS SENIOR
HEIGHT 6-1
WEIGHT 325 lbs.
HOMETOWN Washington Twp, NJ
HIGH SCHOOL Westwood Regional
BIRTHDAY 7/11/1986
|
YEAR |
TACKLES |
TFL |
SACKS |
INTS |
|
2008 |
42 |
14.0 |
7.5 |
0 |
|
2006 |
23 |
8.5 |
3.0 |
0 |
|
2005 |
21 |
6.5 |
1.5 |
0 |
|
2004 |
0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0 |
SCOUTING REPORT
STRENGTHS: Amazing size & strength...Quick feet & very athletic...Explodes off the snap...Easily sheds blocks
WEAKNESSES: Inconsistent...Will takes plays off & get lazy...Inconsistent balance...Suspended for 2007 season
OVERALL: A three year starter, Busari “BJ” Raji progressed nicely over his career and flirted with entering the 2007 NFL Draft after being suspended for the 2007 season due to academic issues, but sat out the year and returned for his senior season in 2008. He had a very good senior campaign almost doubling all of his stats. Raji lacks ideal height, but has very good size and is very strong. He explodes off the snap is extremely aggressive at the POA. Raji is very disruptive and does an excellent job collapsing the pocket. He shows excellent timing and anticipation of the snap. The draft “experts” started to call Raji a top five pick after a dominating week at the Senior Bowl, but game tape reveals that he takes too many plays off and is too inconsistent to warrant that type of money. He has a quick first step, drives lineman back, and can also handle double-teams. Raji is a fighter and has powerful hands and arms that he uses to easily shed blocks. He shows excellent leverage, but will get lazy with his balance. Raji has stayed healthy over his career so durability isn’t an issue.He is extremely versatile and played in a traditional 4-3 defense at Boston College, but can also fit a two-gap technique as a 3-4 nose tackle and will be very attractive to several teams in the top 15 who have switched to the 3-4 scheme (i.e. Green Bay #9, Denver #12). Raji is an attractive prospect because few prospects have his measureables and are put together like him.
BOTTOM LINE: Raji had a dominating week at the Senior Bowl and is a solid top 20 pick because of his versatility and combination of size, strength, and athleticism, but not top 7 material.
|
DATE |
OPPONENT |
RESULT |
TACKLES |
TFL |
SACKS |
INTS |
FF |
QB HURRY |
|
8/30 |
KENT STATE |
W 21-0 |
6 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
9/6 |
GEORGIA TECH |
L 16-19 |
4 |
0.5 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
9/20 |
CENTRAL FLORIDA |
W 34-7 |
2 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
9/27 |
RHODE ISLAND |
W 42-0 |
0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
10/4 |
@ NC STATE |
W 38-31 |
3 |
3.0 |
3.0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
10/18 |
@ VIRGINIA TECH |
W 28-23 |
5 |
0.5 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
10/25 |
@ NORTH CAROLINA |
L 45-24 |
1 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
11/1 |
CLEMSON |
L 27-21 |
4 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
11/8 |
NOTRE DAME |
W 17-0 |
2 |
1.0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
11/15 |
@ FLORIDA STATE |
W 27-17 |
1 |
1.0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
11/22 |
@ WAKE FOREST |
W 24-21 |
2 |
1.5 |
1.5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
11/29 |
MARYLAND |
W 28-21 |
3 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
12/6 |
VIRGINIA TECH |
L 30-12 |
4 |
1.5 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
12/31 |
BOWL-VANDERBILT |
L 16-14 |
5 |
3.0 |
1.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
9-4 (5-4) |
|
42 |
14.0 |
7.5 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
2008 STATISTICS