Jeff Okudah facts for kids
Okudah with Lions in 2022
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| No. 11 – Houston Texans | |||||||||||
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| Position: | Cornerback | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | February 2, 1999 Grand Prairie, Texas, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 205 lb (93 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | South Grand Prairie | ||||||||||
| College: | Ohio State (2017–2019) | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2020 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of Week 18, 2024 | |||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||
Jeffrey Chidera Okudah (born February 2, 1999) is an American professional football player. He plays as a cornerback for the Houston Texans in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the NFL, he played college football at Ohio State. In 2019, he was named a unanimous All-American. The Detroit Lions then chose him third overall in the 2020 NFL draft.
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Early Life and High School Years
Jeff Okudah was born in Grand Prairie, Texas. His parents are from Nigeria. He went to South Grand Prairie High School in his hometown. He was a highly-rated football player in high school. In January 2017, he decided to play college football for Ohio State University.
College Football Career
Playing for Ohio State Buckeyes
Okudah started playing for Ohio State in 2017 as a freshman. He played in all 14 games that season. He made 17 tackles.
In 2018, during his second year, he played in 13 games. He recorded 32 tackles.
His junior year in 2019 was very successful. He made his first career interception against the Miami Redhawks. That season, he had 34 tackles, broke up 9 passes, and made 3 interceptions.
Awards and Going Pro Early
Because of his great performance in 2019, he was chosen for the 2019 College Football All-America Team. This means he was recognized as one of the best college players in the country. He was also a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, which goes to the best defensive back in college football. After his junior year, Okudah decided to skip his final year of college. He chose to enter the 2020 NFL draft instead.
Professional NFL Career
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand size | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 1+1⁄8 in (1.86 m) |
205 lb (93 kg) |
32+5⁄8 in (0.83 m) |
9+1⁄8 in (0.23 m) |
4.48 s | 1.60 s | 2.65 s | 41.0 in (1.04 m) |
11 ft 3 in (3.43 m) |
11 reps | |||
| All values from NFL Combine | ||||||||||||
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Detroit Lions (2020–2022)
Many experts thought Okudah was the best cornerback available in the 2020 NFL draft. The Detroit Lions picked him as the third overall player. On July 13, 2020, he signed his first NFL contract. It was a four-year deal worth over $33 million.
He got a hamstring injury during training camp and missed the first game of the season. He returned to play in Week 2. The next week, he made his first NFL interception. He caught a pass thrown by Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray. Later that season, he had surgery for a core muscle injury. This meant he was placed on injured reserve and missed the rest of the season.
In the Lions' first game of the 2021 season, Okudah suffered a serious injury. He tore his Achilles tendon. This injury ended his season early, and he was again placed on injured reserve.
Atlanta Falcons (2023)
On April 13, 2023, the Detroit Lions traded Okudah to the Atlanta Falcons. In return, the Lions received a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft. He played one season with the Falcons.
Houston Texans (2024–present)
On March 15, 2024, Okudah signed a one-year contract with the Houston Texans. He was placed on injured reserve on September 11. He was activated and returned to play on November 18.
