Chigoziem Okonkwo

Last updated

Chigoziem Okonkwo
Chigoziem Okonkwo interview.jpg
Okonkwo in 2022
No. 85 – Tennessee Titans
Position: Tight end
Personal information
Born: (1999-09-08) September 8, 1999 (age 24)
Powder Springs, Georgia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:238 lb (108 kg)
Career information
High school: Hillgrove
(Powder Springs, Georgia)
College: Maryland (2018–2021)
NFL Draft: 2022  / Round: 4 / Pick: 143
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Receptions:86
Receiving yards:978
Receiving touchdowns:4
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Chigoziem Charlton "Chig" Okonkwo (born September 8, 1999) is an American football tight end for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Maryland.

Contents

Early years

Okonkwo grew up in Powder Springs, Georgia, and attended Hillgrove High School. [1] He was born to a Nigerian family. [2] As a junior, he caught 48 passes for 907 yards and 12 touchdowns. [3] Okonkwo was rated a three-star recruit and committed to play college football at Maryland over offers from Georgia Tech and Wisconsin. [4]

College career

Okonkwo with Maryland in 2021 Chigoziem Okonkwo (51525110413).jpg
Okonkwo with Maryland in 2021

Okonkwo caught six passes for 69 yards and a touchdown and also rushed three times for 72 yards and a touchdown during his freshman season. [5] As a sophomore, he had 19 receptions for 201 yards and two touchdowns. [6] Okonkwo missed the 2020 season after he developed myocarditis. [7] [8] As a senior, Okonkwo caught 52 passes for 447 yards and five touchdowns. [9]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 2+1⁄2 in
(1.89 m)		238 lb
(108 kg)		32+3⁄4 in
(0.83 m)		9+3⁄4 in
(0.25 m)		4.52 s1.57 s2.65 s4.45 s7.19 s35.5 in
(0.90 m)		9 ft 9 in
(2.97 m)		13 reps
Sources: [10] [11]

Okonkwo was selected in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft with the 143rd overall pick by the Tennessee Titans. [12] He made his NFL debut in Week 1 against the New York Giants. [13] In Week 4, against the Indianapolis Colts, he scored his first NFL touchdown on an eight-yard reception from Ryan Tannehill. [14] As a rookie, he appeared in all 17 games and started eight. He finished with 32 receptions for 450 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns. [15] He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team. [16]

NFL career statistics

Legend
BoldCareer high

Regular season

YearTeamGamesReceivingRushingFumbles
GPGSRecYdsAvgLngTDAttYdsAvgLngTDFumLost
2022 TEN 1783245014.1483320.76000
2023 TEN 1510494589.3391263.04000
Career 32188190811.2484581.66000

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References

  1. ↑ Simmons, Chad (April 18, 2017). "Chigoziem Okonkwo is looking national and he has a plan". Rivals.com . Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Feature Friday | A Football Family | umterps.com". static.umterps.com. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  3. ↑ Culpepper, Juliakate E. (August 17, 2017). "Georgia Tech target and Hillgrove receiver to announce commitment". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  4. ↑ Bednarowski, John (August 19, 2017). "Hillgrove pass-catcher Chigoziem Okonkwo commits to Maryland". Marietta Daily Journal . Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  5. ↑ Markus, Don (October 25, 2019). "Spurred by his father's death, tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo is becoming a man for Maryland offense". The Baltimore Sun . Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  6. ↑ Greene, Scott (July 17, 2020). "Okonkwo named to Mackey Award watch list". Rivals.com . Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  7. ↑ Giambalvo, Emily (April 16, 2021). "Maryland tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo back after myocarditis". The Washington Post . Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  8. ↑ McFadden, Ryan (October 28, 2021). "Terps might have strongest sneaker game in college football thanks to Chigoziem Okonkwo's mysterious hookup". The Baltimore Sun . Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  9. ↑ Brown, Wesley (February 8, 2022). "Former Maryland football standout impressing scouts ahead of NFL Draft". 247Sports.com . Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Chig Okonkwo Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Chigoziem Okonkwo, Maryland, FB, 2022 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  12. ↑ Giambalvo, Emily (April 30, 2022). "Titans select Maryland TE Chigoziem Okonkwo in fourth round of NFL draft". The Washington Post . Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  13. ↑ "New York Giants at Tennessee Titans - September 11th, 2022". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts - October 2nd, 2022". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Chigoziem Okonkwo 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  16. ↑ "2022 NFL All-Rookie Team". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
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