Amobi Okoye

Infobox NFLactive


width=200px
caption=Amobi Okoye during the 2007 NFL season.
currentteam=Houston Texans
currentnumber=91
currentpositionplain=Defensive tackle
birthdate=birth date and age|1987|6|10
birthplace=Anambra, Nigeria
heightft=6
heightin=2
weight=302
debutyear=2007
debutteam=Houston Texans
highlights=
* NFL Def. Rookie of the Month (9/07)
* Youngest player to be drafted by an NFL team
college=Louisville
draftyear=2007
draftround=1
draftpick=10
pastteams=
* Houston Texans (2007-present)
status=Active
statweek=4
statseason=2008
statlabel1=Tackles
statvalue1=38
statlabel2=Sacks
statvalue2=5.5
statlabel3=Interceptions
statvalue3=0
nfl=OKO541722

Amobi Okoye (born June 10, 1987 in Anambra, Nigeria) is an American football defensive tackle for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Texans 10th overall in the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Louisville.

Early years

Okoye was born in Anambra State, Nigeria [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Texans Sign Top Pick Okoye, Free Agent McCardell |url=http://www.kfoxtv.com/nfl/13768163/detail.html |work=Sports Network (via KFOXTV.com) |publisher= |date=2007-07-27 |accessdate=2008-01-14 ] [cite web |title= Amobi Okoye|url= http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/players/draft/436548 |work=NFLDraftScout.com (via Sportsline.com) |publisher=CBS |date= |accessdate=2008-01-14 ] ("ESPN The Magazine", however, identifies Lagos as the place of his birth).cite web | title = Huge for His Size | publisher = ESPN The Magazine | url = http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft07/news/story?id=2830642 | date = 2007-04-15 | accessdate = 2007-09-15 ] He moved to Huntsville, Alabama, United States when he was 12 years old. After only spending two weeks in middle school, he tested into the 9th grade. He first started playing football as a sophomore at Lee High School, knowing virtually nothing about the game before his high school coach suggested he go play "Madden NFL" football to learn. By the time he was a senior, he won first-team All-State honors as both a defensive lineman and offensive lineman.

College career

At age 15, Okoye chose the University of Louisville over Harvard, which had reportedly offered him an academic scholarship, [cite news |first=Megan |last=Manfull |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Texans select Louisville DT Amobi Okoye |url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4757683.html |work=Houston Chronicle |publisher= |date=2007-04-28 |accessdate= ] privileging the strong football program of the former over the academic reputation of the latter. Nevertheless, he plans to attend graduate school at Harvard eventually. [cite news |first=Karen |last=Crouse |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=N.F.L. Prospect Is a Prodigy in Helmet and Pads |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/26/sports/football/26combine.html?ex=1330142400&en=4da97b8d96c9e093&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss |work=New York Times |publisher= |date=2007-02-26 |accessdate= ]

At Louisville, Okoye majored in biology. He later switched his major to psychology and graduated a semester early, thereby completing his degree in three and a half years. At 16, he became the youngest player in the NCAA. Okoye played in all 13 games as a freshman at defensive tackle and was credited with 17 tackles and a sack. He recorded then-career-best three tackles against Tulane and recorded his first career sack against UTEP.

As a sophomore, Okoye appeared in 11 of 12 games, recording 26 tackles and a sack. Okoye's only missed game was against East Carolina, because of a shoulder injury. Okoye also made his first collegiate start against Army, recording a career-high seven tackles.

In his junior season of 2005, he recorded 23 tackles and four tackles for a loss. In the biggest game of the year, against the West Virginia Mountaineers, Okoye recorded four tackles. He missed the Florida Atlantic matchup due to a foot sprain. Against Kentucky, Okoye registered two tackles and a fumble recovery. Okoye also totaled three tackles against South Florida.

As a senior in 2006, Okoye finally started all 13 games. In those 13 games, he registered 55 tackles, eight sacks, and recovered three fumbles. Okoye garnered Associated Press Second-Team All-American honors and first-team All-Big East honors. As the NCAA's youngest senior at 19 years old, Okoye garnered first-round draft status during the season.

During the Senior Bowl, Okoye's stock rose dramatically with strong practice and game performances.

Professional career

Houston Texans

Okoye was drafted by the Houston Texans as the tenth pick of the first round of the 2007 NFL draft. He is the youngest player to ever be drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft at only 19 years old. He was the highest draft pick to come out of the University of Louisville since the AFL-NFL merger. [cite web | title = NFL Draft History | url = http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?abbr=L&collegeName=Louisville&abbr
| accessdate = 2007-10-01]

Okoye signed a six-year deal with the Texans on July 26, which allowed him to begin training camp with his teammates the next day. With his first start, Okoye became the youngest player to appear in an NFL game since 1967.cite news | title = Williams recovers fumble for TD, has two sacks in win - Game Notes | publisher = ESPN.com | date = 2007-09-09 | url = http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=270909034 | accessdate = 2007-09-09 ]

Okoye was named Defensive Rookie of the Month for September 2007 after leading the AFC with four sacks. He is the youngest player ever to receive the award. [ [http://www.houstontexans.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=3718 Okoye named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month - HoustonTexans.com] ]

Notes and references

External links

*espn nfl|id=8264|name=Amobi Okoye
* [http://www.houstontexans.com/team/player.asp?player_id=285 Houston Texans bio]
* [http://uoflsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/okoye_amobi00.html Louisville Cardinals bio]