Rookie CB Michael Ojemudia has a bright future in orange and blue

Michael Ojemudia. If you haven’t become acquainted with the rookie cornerback from the University of Iowa, Broncos Country, the time is now.

This 23-year-old young pup celebrated his birthday on September 12th — just two days before his phenomenal NFL debut against the Tennessee Titans on Monday Night Football.

Although we’re all still feeling the blow left behind by Tennessee’s 16-14 victory at Empower Field at Mile High on Monday, Mr. Ojemudia’s future is vibrantly bright in the orange and blue.

Pro-Bowl cornerback A. J. Bouye will now be observing from the sidelines for at least the next three weeks after being placed on injured reserve with a dislocated shoulder. Signs are good that Bouye will return shortly thereafter, but that now leaves Mr. Ojemudia as the Broncos’ No. 1 corner.

Against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Michael will have the daunting job of clamping down wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. The 6-foot-1 and 220-pound former USC Trojan has produced lofty numbers with 217 pigskin plucks for 2,964 yards. Add a total of 20 trips to the heezy (touchdowns) since his rookie season in 2017, and it’s clear that Smith-Schuster is a gamer.

It might seem as if Ojemudia is undersized compared to JuJu, but they both stand 6-foot-1. Weighing-in at 200 pounds, Mr. Ojemudia makes up for that 20-pound differential with shear strength.

Ojemudia was the Broncos’ first pick on defense in the 2020 NFL draft for a reason.

Ojemudia certainly can’t be coined as “Ojemudia Island” or perhaps the smaller “Ojemudia Isle” just yet. However, the visible tools he possesses after just one NFL game make me a believer that he’ll become an integral staple in the secondary of Denver’s defense.

Ojemudia’s ridiculous flying interception could’ve been the play of the game if it wasn’t overturned by a debatable unsportsmanlike penalty against Alexander Johnson. Late in the game, Michael’s pass interference penalty may have sealed the Broncos’ fate in the end, but this stud was otherwise remarkable throughout the contest.

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It wasn’t like Mr. Ojemudia was responsible for calling Denver’s three timeouts with just under two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. He’s already been roasted enough, but that’s on head coach Vic Fangio’s utter lack of awareness in crunch-time. I’m sorry, my friends. I seriously doubt you blame me for going there.

Great vision, balance, hands, strength, and extraordinary ball skills define Ojemudia’s game. He’s a straight-up baller, y’all.

I can’t wait to see what Mr. Ojemudia is capable of going mano-a-mano with Steelers’ wide receiver Smith-Schuster. If he can keep Pittsburgh’s best wideout at bay, the Broncos have a great chance on Sunday.

Look for rookie cornerback Michael Ojemudia to be the ball-hawking corner that the Denver Broncos desperatley need both now and for years to come.