Amobi Okoye

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Amobi Okoye
Date of birth	June 10, 1987 (age 19)
Place of birth	Anambra, Nigeria
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight	317 lb (144 kg)
Position(s)	DT
College	Louisville
NFL Draft	2007 / Round TBD

Amobi Okoye (born June 10, 1987 in Anambra, Nigeria) is an American football player. He played defensive tackle at the University of Louisville from 2003 to 2006. He is a top prospect for the 2007 NFL Draft.

1 High school career
2 College career
3 Pro Career
4 Notes and references
5 External links

[edit] High school career

Originally from Anambra, Nigeria, Amobi moved to Huntsville, Alabama when he was 12 years old. A bright kid, he tested into the 9th grade. He first started playing football as a Sophomore, knowing virtually nothing about the game. By the time he was a Senior, he won first-team All-State honors as both a defensive lineman and offensive lineman

[edit] College career

Amobi went to the University of Louisville, majoring in psychology. He also became the youngest player in the NCAA, at age 16. Okoye played in all 13 games as a freshman at defensive tackle and was credited with 17 tackles and a sack. 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 career-high seven tackles.

In his junior season of 2005, where 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, Okoye registered 55 tackles, eight sacks, and recovered three fumbles. Okoye garnered Associated Press Second-Team All-American honors and 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.

[edit] Pro Career

Okoye is described as a 'once in a lifetime' player by ESPN's John Clayton.^[1] His performance at the Senior Bowl made him a possible first-round pick at the NFL Draft. Clayton noted that if his body can withstand the pressure of the NFL, his age makes it possible for him to sign three large contracts over the space of his career, and that he could become a free agent at age 24, an age at which a substantial number of players begin their NFL careers. Okoye enters the 2007 draft at the age of a typical college sophomore but with a college degree, a combination that is highly unlikely to be repeated in the foreseeable future.