Recent Michigan Wolverines draft bust gets rare exception ahead of career-defining season gets underway

The story of former Michigan star pass-rusher David Ojabo is one of the most unique of any NFL player. Growing up in Nigeria before moving to Scotland, and then later New Jersey, Ojabo has far from the traditional football journey. 

While he looks the part of an NFL stud as a 6-foot-4, 252-pounder and he seemed to have it click in 2021. Ojabo didn't play as a true freshman in 2019 and sparingly saw the field in 2020. However, he hit the ground running with 11 sacks in Year 3.

His tremendous combine performance catapulted him into being a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. The Baltimore Ravens added him to their core of athletic but raw pass-rushers.

However, Ojabo's NFL success hasn't been there yet. The Ravens went so far as to use a rare roster exemption for Ojabo this week. The following is from our own Wendell Ferreira's breakdown of the move from the Ravens' side.

Ojabo was designated part of the International Pathway Program. With the extra roster spot, the Ravens signed undrafted rookie Kaimon Rucker from North Carolina.

How the IPP works

The International Pathway Program was created by the NFL to incentivize teams to develop foreign football players without significant previous experience in the sport. The best example was Philadelphia Eagles left tackle Jordan Mailata, who arrived in the United States at 21 after playing rugby in Australia. 

The IPP grew, and now every team has a roster exemption, meaning that the international player doesn't count towards the 90-man roster limit. If he is cut and clears waivers, the player can return to the practice squad without counting towards the 16-man PS limit either.

To qualify for the program, an international player must have citizenship and residency outside the United States and Canada, with a maximum of two years of US high school experience.

And this is the loophole the Ravens found. Even though Ojabo played college football and was a second-round draft pick, he was still eligible.