Jeff Okudah

Last updated

Jeff Okudah
Jeff Okudah 2022.jpg
Okudah with Lions in 2022
No. 11 – Houston Texans
Position: Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (1999-02-02) February 2, 1999 (age 25)
Grand Prairie, Texas, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:202 lb (92 kg)
Career information
High school: South Grand Prairie
College: Ohio State (2017–2019)
NFL draft: 2020  / round: 1 / pick: 3
Career history
Roster status:Injured reserve
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Total tackles:168
Forced fumbles:1
Pass deflections:13
Interceptions:2
Defensive touchdowns:1
Player stats at PFR

Jeffrey Chidera Okudah (born February 2, 1999) is an American professional football cornerback for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ohio State, where he was a unanimous All-American in 2019 before being selected by the Detroit Lions third overall in the 2020 NFL draft.

Contents

Early years

Okudah was born in Grand Prairie, Texas to Nigerian parents. [1] He attended South Grand Prairie High School in Grand Prairie, Texas. [2] [3] A five-star recruit, he committed to Ohio State University in January 2017. [4] [5]

College career

As a true freshman at Ohio State in 2017, Okudah played in all 14 games and had 17 tackles. [6] [7] As a sophomore in 2018, he played in 13 games, recording 32 tackles. As a junior in 2019, he recorded his first career interception against the Miami Redhawks. [8] As a junior in 2019, Okudah had 34 tackles, 9 passes defensed, and 3 interceptions. For his performance that season, he was unanimously named to the 2019 College Football All-America Team and was also named a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award. [9] Okudah decided to forgo his senior year by declaring for the 2020 NFL draft. [10]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 1+18 in
(1.86 m)
205 lb
(93 kg)
32+58 in
(0.83 m)
9+18 in
(0.23 m)
4.48 s1.60 s2.65 s41.0 in
(1.04 m)
11 ft 3 in
(3.43 m)
11 reps
All values from NFL Combine [11] [12]
Okudah playing against the Washington Football Team in 2020. Jeff Okudah Antonio Gibson WFT vs Lions NOV2020 (cropped).jpg
Okudah playing against the Washington Football Team in 2020.

Detroit Lions

Okudah was considered to be the best cornerback prospect in the 2020 NFL draft, [13] [14] where he was selected third overall by the Detroit Lions. [15] He signed his four-year rookie contract with the team on July 13, 2020. [16] The contract was worth a fully guaranteed $33.528 million, including a $21.944 million signing bonus. [17] He suffered a hamstring injury during training camp and missed the opening season game. He returned in Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers, where he allowed three completions for 4 yards. [18] The following week, he recorded his first career interception off a pass thrown by Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray. [19] Okudah was placed on injured reserve after he underwent surgery to resolve a core muscle injury on December 15. [20] [21]

During the Lions' 2021 season opener against the San Francisco 49ers, Okudah ruptured his Achilles tendon and was placed on injured reserve. [22]

Atlanta Falcons

Okudah was traded to the Atlanta Falcons on April 13, 2023, in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft. [23]

Houston Texans

On March 15, 2024, Okudah signed a one-year contract with the Houston Texans. [24] He was placed on injured reserve on September 11. [25]

NFL career statistics

YearTeamGamesTacklesInterceptionsFumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckPDIntYdsAvgLngTDFFFRYdsTD
2020 DET 96474160.0213636.03600000
2021 DET 114310.01000.0000000
2022 DET 15157359140.0712020.02011000
2023 ATL 1394434100.03000000000
Career 3831168137310.01325628.03611000

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References

  1. Rogers, Justin (October 28, 2020). "'It's right there, right at home': Nigerian unrest hits close to home for Lions quartet". The Detroit News. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  2. Davenport, Richard (October 4, 2015). "Texas defensive back impresses off the field, too". Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
  3. Zaleon, Avi (February 3, 2016). "Say hello to the new No.1 recruit in DFW: South Grand Prairie's Jeffrey Okudah". Dallas News. Archived from the original on April 21, 2020. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
  4. Olson, Max (January 7, 2017). "Five-star safety Jeffrey Okudah commits to Ohio State". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
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  14. Kartje, Ryan (April 7, 2020). "A top pick in NFL draft? Ohio State corner Jeff Okudah has it covered". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 10, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
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  20. Alper, Josh (December 15, 2020). "Jeff Okudah says core muscle surgery went well". ProFootballTalk. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
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  24. "Houston Texans Transactions (03-15-2024)". HoustonTexans.com. March 15, 2024.
  25. "Houston Texans Transactions (09-11-2024)". HoustonTexans.com. September 11, 2024.