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Cleveland Browns: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu inching closer to 100 percent

By Matt Stevenson

Feb 21, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oregon defensive back Ifo Ekpre-Olomu speaks to the media at the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 21, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oregon defensive back Ifo Ekpre-Olomu speaks to the media at the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cleveland Browns cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu missed his rookie season in 2015 after tearing his ACL, but is almost ready for his return to the field.

The Cleveland Browns took a chance on injured cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu in the 2015 NFL Draft knowing he’d more than likely miss his entire first season, which he did.

After collecting $3 million via an insurance policy for dropping in the draft due to an injury, Ekpre-Olomu was taken in the seventh round with the No. 241 overall pick in the draft by Cleveland.

Since then, he has been attending rehab and therapy sessions to recover from tearing his ACL before the NCAA National Championship game during his final year with the University of Oregon. 

The former Ducks standout posted a photograph on his Instagram account on Monday where he described his difficult first season and his preparations to get ready for his second one.

“I’m not quite 100 [percent] yet, but I’m close.” – Cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu

“I’m not quite 100 [percent] yet, but I’m close and in the next couple of weeks I’ll show you some of the progress I’ve made,” Ekpre-Olomu shared through the social media channel.

Before his injury, the talented cornerback totaled 147 tackles along with four interceptions in his four seasons at Oregon.

Before the draft, the Ekpre-Olomu was praised for his agility on the field, solid tackling and for his ability to play both zone and man coverage. He also played special team’s in his final two season at Oregon as a punt returner.

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There are two major hurdles that the former seventh-rounder will have to overcome, one being that at 5-foot-10 he is a bit  undersized at the NFL level. That will be a challenge for him in the AFC North where he will face wide receivers like Cincinnati’s A.J. Green (6-foot-4) and Pittsburgh’s Martavis Bryant (6-foot-5). Joe Haden is only 5-foot-11 and is the team’s leading cornerback, so Ekpre-Olomu will need to thrive on his natural instincts and decisive footwork.

The second hurdle is that anyone coming off of an ACL injury, let alone one suffered in college, presents a health risk for the future. Many scouts weren’t sure if Ekre-Olomu would even be drafted due to the seriousness of his injury, so rehabbing properly and undergoing therapy sessions will be critical to his progress as an NFL player.

The Brown’s ranked No. 22 in passing yards per game last season while coming in at No. 30 for passing touchdowns allowed and, lastly, finished at No. 21 for defensive interceptions with 11. Keep in mind, Cleveland Browns free agent Tashaun Gipson had eight total interceptions alone in the 2014 season.

Cleveland attempted to find their second cornerback to play opposite Haden last season, and while K’Waun Williams played decent, although he’s no lock to start next season.

Ekpre-Olomu was debatably a first-round talent before his injury in 2014, and depending on how well his rehabilitation goes, he has a good opportunity to play and make an impact for the Cleveland Browns in the 2016 NFL season.

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