Jeff Okudah Explained

Jeff Okudah
Current Team:Houston Texans
Number:11
Position:Cornerback
Birth Date:1999 2, mf=yes
Birth Place:Grand Prairie, Texas, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:1
Weight Lb:202
High School:South Grand Prairie
College:Ohio State (2017–2019)
Draftyear:2020
Draftround:1
Draftpick:3
Pastteams:
Status:Active
Highlights:
Statseason:2023
Statlabel1:Total tackles
Statvalue1:168
Statlabel2:Forced fumbles
Statvalue2:1
Statlabel3:Fumble recoveries
Statlabel4:Pass deflections
Statvalue4:13
Statlabel5:Interceptions
Statvalue5:2
Statlabel6:Defensive touchdowns
Statvalue6:1
Pfr:OkudJe00

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.

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

Detroit Lions

Okudah was considered to be the best cornerback prospect in the 2020 NFL draft,[11] [12] where he was selected third overall by the Detroit Lions.[13] He signed his four-year rookie contract with the team on July 13, 2020.[14] The contract was worth a fully guaranteed $33.528 million, including a $21.944 million signing bonus.[15] 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.[16] The following week, he recorded his first career interception off a pass thrown by Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray.[17] Okudah was placed on injured reserve after he underwent surgery to resolve a core muscle injury on December 15.[18] [19]

During the Lions' 2021 season opener against the San Francisco 49ers, Okudah ruptured his Achilles tendon and was placed on injured reserve.[20]

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.[21]

Houston Texans

On March 15, 2024, Okudah signed a one-year contract with the Houston Texans.[22]

NFL career statistics

YearTeamGamesTacklesInterceptionsFumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck PD Int Yds Avg Lng TD FF FR Yds TD
DET9 6 47 41 6 0.0 2 1 36 36.0 36 0 0 0 0 0
DET1 1 4 3 1 0.0 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2022DET15157359140.0712020.02011000
ATL13 9 44 34 10 0.0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career 38 31 168 137 31 0.0 13 2 56 28.0 36 1 1 0 0 0

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rogers . Justin . October 28, 2020 . 'It's right there, right at home': Nigerian unrest hits close to home for Lions quartet . 2024-06-09 . The Detroit News . en-US.
  2. Web site: Davenport, Richard . October 4, 2015 . Texas defensive back impresses off the field, too . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190927043906/https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2015/oct/04/texas-defensive-back-impresses-off-the--1/ . September 27, 2019 . September 27, 2019 . Arkansas Democrat Gazette.
  3. Web site: Zaleon . Avi . February 3, 2016 . Say hello to the new No.1 recruit in DFW: South Grand Prairie's Jeffrey Okudah . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200421052351/https://www.dallasnews.com/high-school-sports/2016/02/03/say-hello-to-the-new-no-1-recruit-in-dfw-south-grand-prairie-s-jeffrey-okudah/ . April 21, 2020 . September 27, 2019 . Dallas News.
  4. Web site: Olson . Max . January 7, 2017 . Five-star safety Jeffrey Okudah commits to Ohio State . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190927043905/https://www.espn.com/college-sports/recruiting/football/story/_/id/18426998/ohio-state-buckeyes-lands-jeffrey-okudah-five-star-safety-texas . September 27, 2019 . September 27, 2019 . ESPN.com.
  5. Web site: January 7, 2017 . Ohio State lands commitment from five-star athlete Jeffrey Okudah . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190927043906/https://www.si.com/college-football/2017/01/07/ohio-state-buckeyes-jeffrey-okudah-commitment . September 27, 2019 . September 27, 2019 . SI.com . Scout.com.
  6. Web site: Rabinowitz . Bill . April 4, 2018 . Ohio State football | Jeffrey Okudah has persevered through pain . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20190927043859/https://www.dispatch.com/sports/20180404/ohio-state-football--jeffrey-okudah-has-persevered-through-pain . September 27, 2019 . September 27, 2019 . The Columbus Dispatch.
  7. Web site: May . Tim . September 15, 2018 . Ohio State-TCU | Buckeyes' Jeffrey Okudah has history with Horned Frogs QB . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20190927044058/https://www.buckeyextra.com/sports/20180915/ohio-state-tcu--buckeyes-jeffrey-okudah-has-history-with-horned-frogs-qb . September 27, 2019 . September 27, 2019 . Buckeyextra.
  8. Web site: Baird, Nathan . September 22, 2019 . Ohio State football's Jeff Okudah relishes first career interception against Miami of Ohio . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190927045401/https://www.cleveland.com/osu/2019/09/ohio-state-footballs-jeff-okudah-relishes-first-career-interception-against-miami-of-ohio.html . September 27, 2019 . September 27, 2019 . Cleveland.com.
  9. Web site: Hooley . Bruce . January 9, 2020 . Chase Young, Jeff Okudah Likely to go 2–3 in NFL Draft . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211016060041/https://www.si.com/college/ohiostate/football/chase-young-jeff-okudah-likely-to-go-2-3-in-nfl-draft . October 16, 2021 . April 9, 2020 . SI.com.
  10. Web site: Wells, Adam . January 1, 2020 . Ohio State CB Jeff Okudah Declares for 2020 NFL Draft After Loss to Clemson . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200102143806/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2863452-ohio-state-cb-jeff-okudah-declares-for-2020-nfl-draft-after-loss-to-clemson . January 2, 2020 . January 10, 2020 . Bleacher Report.
  11. Web site: Hanson . Kevin . March 15, 2020 . 2020 NFL Draft Rankings: Cornerbacks . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200502231615/https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/02/20/nfl-draft-2020-cornerbacks-rankings-best-prospects . May 2, 2020 . April 8, 2020 . SI.com.
  12. Web site: Kartje . Ryan . April 7, 2020 . A top pick in NFL draft? Ohio State corner Jeff Okudah has it covered . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200410232817/https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2020-04-07/draft-profile-on-ohio-states-jeff-okudah . April 10, 2020 . April 8, 2020 . Los Angeles Times.
  13. Web site: Birkett . Dave . April 23, 2020 . It's official! Detroit Lions take Jeff Okudah with No. 3 pick in 2020 NFL draft . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200424231607/https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2020/04/24/jeff-okudah-detroit-lions-nfl-draft-2020/3009362001/ . April 24, 2020 . April 23, 2020 . Detroit Free Press.
  14. Web site: Patra . Kevin . Lions agree with No. 3 overall pick Jeff Okudah on rookie contract . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200713172205/https://www.nfl.com/news/lions-agree-with-no-3-overall-pick-jeff-okudah-on-rookie-contract . July 13, 2020 . July 13, 2020 . NFL.com.
  15. Web site: July 15, 2020 . Jeff Okudah's Contract Details Revealed . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211001203711/https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/jeff-okudah-contract-details-released . October 1, 2021 . October 1, 2021 . SI.com.
  16. Web site: September 20, 2020 . Jones' big day helps Packers beat Lions 27–14 in home opener . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200923183742/https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401220291 . September 23, 2020 . September 20, 2020 . ESPN.com . Associated Press.
  17. Web site: Detroit Lions at Arizona Cardinals – September 27th, 2020 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200924112916/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202009270crd.htm . September 24, 2020 . September 30, 2020 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  18. Web site: Alper . Josh . December 15, 2020 . Jeff Okudah says core muscle surgery went well . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210111052238/https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/12/15/jeff-okudah-says-core-muscle-surgery-went-well/ . January 11, 2021 . December 15, 2020 . ProFootballTalk . en-US.
  19. Web site: Schlitt . Erik . December 16, 2020 . Detroit Lions officially place Jeff Okudah on IR . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210119082247/https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2020/12/16/detroit-lions-officially-place-jeff-okudah-on-ir/ . January 19, 2021 . February 2, 2021 . USAToday.com.
  20. Web site: Woodyard . Eric . September 13, 2021 . Source: Lions' Okudah (Achilles) out for season . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210913153526/https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/32202663/source-detroit-lions-cb-jeff-okudah-season-ruptured-achilles . September 13, 2021 . September 13, 2021 . ESPN.com . en.
  21. Web site: April 13, 2023 . Lions trade CB Jeff Okudah to Atlanta Falcons . May 18, 2023 . DetroitLions.com.
  22. Web site: Houston Texans Transactions (03-15-2024) . March 15, 2024. HoustonTexans.com . en-US.