BIOGRAPHY
Obi Duru is a defensive back from Dallas, Georgia, the son of Trisha and Joseph Duru, and the brother of two sisters, Nnenna and Chizara Duru. A cornerback at North Paulding High School, Duru has earned All-Conference and All-County recognition while maintaining a solid GPA and strong academic standing.
On the field, Duru is a versatile, disciplined defender known for his quickness, nimble footwork, and fast close-down speed. He plays with a high football IQ and is recognized as a coachable competitor and team leader. Duru excels in both man-to-man and zone coverage, displaying fluid hips, quick breaks on the ball, and strong timing at the catch point. He consistently attacks and high-points deep throws, turning opportunities into interceptions or pass breakups. Beyond coverage, he adds value as a reliable open-field tackler and effective blitzer who can disrupt quarterbacks. More than a cover corner, Duru is a complete, scheme-versatile defensive back prepared for the next level.
URA EVALUATION
Obi Duru is steadily positioning himself as a name to track in Georgia’s 2027 class, emerging as a dependable and detail-oriented defensive back for North Paulding High School. A cornerback who plays with intention and discipline, Duru shows an advanced understanding of coverage structure and situational football for his age.
A technically sound defender, Duru is comfortable operating in both man and zone schemes, showing a high football IQ, strong eye discipline, and an advanced understanding of route concepts. Beyond coverage, he adds value as a physical, dependable open-field tackler, a willing run defender, and a situational blitzer who plays with controlled aggression. Coaches praise his coachability, leadership presence, and consistent effort, traits that translate to trust on the field and versatility within a defensive system. With his combination of athletic tools, awareness, and competitive edge, Duru profiles as a complete defensive back capable of fitting multiple schemes at the next level.
On film, Duru stands out for his controlled footwork, efficient transitions, and ability to stay square through the route stem. He maintains leverage well in man coverage and shows awareness in zone, consistently putting himself in position to contest the football. His breaks are decisive rather than reckless, reflecting a player who trusts his eyes and preparation.
Duru’s impact extends beyond coverage responsibilities. He is a willing and effective tackler in space and shows no hesitation triggering downhill in run support. North Paulding also utilizes him as a pressure defender, where his timing and acceleration allow him to disrupt quarterbacks from the edge.
As a freshman, Duru quickly separated himself as one of the top young defensive backs in the program. His consistent play and rapid development led to a late-season move to varsity, signaling the coaching staff’s confidence in his readiness to compete at a higher level.
Duru secured a varsity starting spot before the season began and made an immediate impact, opening the year with nine tackles and a tackle for loss. He closed his sophomore season with 15 total tackles, reinforcing his value as a dependable contributor in the secondary.
Duru opened his junior season with immediate impact, recording two interceptions in the first two games and establishing himself as a consistent playmaker in the secondary. He finished the year with a strong all-around stat line: two interceptions, three quarterback sacks, 42 total tackles (33 solo), and four tackles for loss, while consistently affecting the passing game with 15 pass breakups. He also added one forced fumble and one fumble recovery, highlighting his ability to create turnovers in multiple ways.
His production and consistency earned him First Team All-County honors and Second Team All-Region recognition. Following the season, Duru drew recruiting interest from multiple programs, including Auburn, Cincinnati, Duke, Northwestern, Kennesaw State, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, and Princeton, reflecting growing attention from both Power Five and high-academic FBS programs.
As he enters his senior campaign, Duru projects as the centerpiece of North Paulding’s defensive backfield and a proven playmaker within the region.
An A and B Honor Roll student, Duru brings a reliable academic profile that complements his football IQ, preparation habits, and coachability.
(2025–26) Junior Season
< 6A-Region 5 All-Region
< All-County Cornerback
< All-County Cornerback
< 2nd in the state of Georgia for long jump.
< AAU Junior Olympian
< GA Prep Varsity.com : Top DB 2027
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