Saturday, 31 December 2011
Amobi Okoye is a Nigerian Psychology graduate of the University of Louisville, United States, who is today, a top defensive player in the United States’ National Football League (NFL). Amobi, within his short period of playing in the US as a student and professional footballer
has set indelible records. SEYI GESINDE reports.
ANigerian, Amobi Okoye,who emerged the youngest player in the American National Football League (NFL), is still waxing stronger as a defensive player for the Chicago Bears.
Born June 10, 1987, the 24-year-old Anambra State indigene became the United States’ Houston Texans’ tenth overall in the 2007 NFL Draft. He had earlier played college football at Louisville.
At age 12, Amobi moved to Huntsville, Alabama in the US. His adaptation to the American environment was so fast that just after 14 days in God’s own country; he was tested and passed into the 9th grade.
He began playing football as a second year student at Lee High School, when he knew virtually nothing about the game.
But his high school coach who was quick to discover his talent advised him to start learning how to play in the NFL.
He heeded, and as of the time he became a senior student, he won first-team All-State honours as both a defensive lineman and offensive lineman.
When he turned 15 years of age, Amobi got an offer to study at the prestigious Harvard University, but he opted for University of Louisville as a result of his interest in developing a strong football programme.
While at Louisville, he started off as a biology student, but he eventually changed his course to psychology. Amobi had an interesting academic pursuit at Louisville that he graduated a semester earlier than his normal academic programme, meaning that instead of spending four years for his degree course, he completed his degree in three and a half years.
At 16, he became the youngest player in the United States National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Okoye played in all the 13 games at the competition not minding the fact that he entered as a freshman in the defensive. He had 17 tackles and a sack to his credit.
As a second year player, Amobi appeared in 11 of 12 games, recording 26 tackles and a sack. He only missed a game because of a shoulder injury.
In 2005 during his junior season, Amobi had a record of 23 tackles and four tackles for a loss. In the most popular game of that year played against the West Virginia Mountaineers, Amobi recorded only four tackles.
Entering the senior level in 2006, Amobi finally featured in all the 13 games played for the tournament and in all, he recorded 55 tackles, eight sacks, and recovered three fumbles.
He garnered Associated Press Second-Team All-American honours and first-team All-Big East honours. As the NCAA’s youngest senior at 19 years old, Okoye garnered first-round draft status during the season.
During the Senior Bowl, Amobi’s stock rose dramatically with strong practice and game performances.
He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft. He became the youngest player to ever be drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft at only 19 years old, while also emerging the highest draft pick to come out of the University of Louisville since the AFL-NFL merger.