Uzooma Okeke facts for kids
| Date of birth: | September 3, 1970 |
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| Place of birth: | Beaumont, Texas, U.S. |
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Career information
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| CFL status: | Import |
| Position(s): | OT |
| College: | SMU |
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Organizations
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Career highlights and awards
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| CFL All-Star: | 1997–1999, 2002–2005 |
| CFL East All-Star: | 1997–1999, 2002–2005 |
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Career stats
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Canadian Football Hall of Fame, 2014
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Uzooma Okeke (born September 3, 1970) is a former professional football player. He was a very important tackle for the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Uzooma helped his team win the famous Grey Cup championship in 2002. After his playing career, he continued to work with the Montreal Alouettes as a Football Operations Assistant and Scout.
College Football Journey
Uzooma Okeke played college football at Southern Methodist University (SMU). He was a starting offensive tackle for two years. What's cool is that he played both offense and defense for his team!
Uzooma was part of the team that brought football back to SMU. This happened after the team had faced a big penalty. He learned a lot from his coach, Forrest Gregg. Uzooma worked hard both on the field and in his studies. He successfully earned a degree in Public Relations from SMU.
Amazing CFL Career
Uzooma's professional football journey began in 1994. His college coach, Forrest Gregg, invited him to play for the Shreveport Pirates in the CFL. He played there for two years, in 1994 and 1995.
In 1996, Uzooma moved to the Ottawa Rough Riders. But his most successful time started in 1997. He joined the Montreal Alouettes and played with them for ten years! He was a very strong and reliable player on their offensive line. This means he helped protect his team's quarterback and block for running plays.
Uzooma was chosen as an All-Star six times during his career. This shows how talented he was! In 1998, he won the Leo Dandurand Trophy as the best lineman in the East division. The next year, in 1999, he won the CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award. This award goes to the best offensive lineman in the entire league.
Uzooma stopped playing football professionally before the 2007 season. He then joined the Alouettes team in a new role as a scout. His job was to find new talented players. In 2014, Uzooma Okeke was honored by being inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. This is a huge achievement for any football player!
