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Owa Odighizuwa

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Owa Odighizuwa
refer to caption
Odighizuwa with the New York Giants in 2016
No. 58
Position:Defensive end
Personal information
Born: (1992-04-01) April 1, 1992 (age 32)
Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:264 lb (120 kg)
Career information
High school:David Douglas (Portland, Oregon)
College:UCLA (2010–2014)
NFL draft:2015 / round: 3 / pick: 74
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:6
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Owamagbe Odighizuwa (born April 1, 1992) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UCLA Bruins, earning second-team all-conference honors in the Pac-12. He was selected by the Giants in the third round of the 2015 NFL draft.

Early life

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Odighizuwa was born in Columbus, Ohio. At the age of 3, he moved to his parents' native country of Nigeria to live with family in the heart of Benin City. He returned to the United States five years later, moving to Portland, Oregon in 2001.[1] He grew up playing soccer in Nigeria, and by the time he reached junior high in the David Douglas School District, he was more into track & field and basketball. It wasn't until eighth grade that he decided to play football.[2] He attended David Douglas High School, playing all four seasons for the school. As a senior, he made 90 tackles, including 10 sacks, and recorded 96 tackles, 22 for loss, as a junior. He was selected to play in the 2010 U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas.[3] And was one of a handful of national players named an All-American by USA Today. In track, Odighizuwa competed as a sprinter (7.44 in the 60m and 11.8 in the 100m) and as a shot putter (top-throw of 48-7 or 14.86m).[4]

Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, Odighizuwa was rated as the second best weakside defensive end prospect of his class, and drew comparisons to Osi Umenyiora.[5] He accepted a scholarship offer to play college football from UCLA on 2010 National Signing Day.[6]

College career

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In 2010, he made six starts as a true freshman for the Bruins, recording 10 tackles and three sacks for the season. In 2011, he appeared in all 14 games, recording 21 tackles including three for loss. In 2012, he saw action in all 14 games, recording 44 tackles, including six for loss and 3.5 sacks. He missed the entire 2013 season recovering from right hip surgery,[7] garnering himself a medical redshirt. He returned in 2014, completely recovered from his injury.[8][9] He recorded 61 tackles, including 11.5 for loss, six sacks, and five pass breakups, earning himself second-team All-Pac-12 Conference honors.[10]

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 3+1⁄2 in
(1.92 m) 		267 lb
(121 kg) 		33+3⁄4 in
(0.86 m) 		11 in
(0.28 m)		 4.62 s 1.61 s 2.69 s 4.19 s 7.36 s 39 in
(0.99 m)		 10 ft 7 in
(3.23 m)		 25 reps
All values from NFL Combine[11][12]

New York Giants

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Odighizuwa was drafted by the New York Giants in the third round with the 74th overall pick of the 2015 NFL draft.[13] Comparisons were immediately made between Odighizuwa and former Giants defensive end Justin Tuck, as they were both drafted in the third round as the 74th overall pick in the draft after falling due to injury concerns, and because it was believed that Odighizuwa, like Tuck, could shift inside on passing downs as part of a 4 defensive end pass rush. Unfortunately, due to injuries, his rookie season became essentially a redshirt season for Odighizuwa, as he ended the season on injured reserve.

On August 28, 2017, Odighizuwa was suspended the first four games of the 2017 season for violating the league's performance enhancing drugs policy.[14] The next day, he was released by the Giants.[15]

Buffalo Bills

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On March 8, 2018, Odighizuwa signed with the Buffalo Bills.[16] He was released on July 29, 2018.[17]

Personal life

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Odighizuwa has been open about his struggles with depression, and his younger brother Osa believes Owa’s mental health issues are the reason his career ended prematurely.[18]

Odighizuwa's father, Peter, was the perpetrator of the 2002 Appalachian School of Law shooting, in which three were killed and three were wounded.[19]

References

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  1. ^ "Dinsdale: Owa mixes speed, power, work ethic". ESPN.com. October 25, 2009. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  2. ^ Ulmer, Jerry (May 12, 2009). "David Douglas' Owamagbe Odighizuwa is taking his thing national". oregonlive. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  3. ^ "Rivals.com". n.rivals.com. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  4. ^ "Owamagbe Odighizuwa". Athletic.net. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  5. ^ Owamagbe Odighizuwa - Yahoo Sports
  6. ^ Schnell, Lindsay (February 3, 2010). "National signing day: Owamagbe Odighizuwa wears an orange shirt on national TV, then picks UCLA". oregonlive. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  7. ^ "UCLA defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa to sit out the 2013 season". Los Angeles Times. May 14, 2013. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  8. ^ "Lineman Owamagbe Odighizuwa returns from injury strong". Daily Bruin. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  9. ^ "UCLA's Owamagbe Odighizuwa spells trouble for opposing offenses". article.wn.com. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  10. ^ Wang, Jack (January 15, 2015). "Life after Brett Hundley begins now for UCLA football". Los Angeles Daily News. Archived from the original on January 20, 2015.
  11. ^ "Owa Odighizuwa Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  12. ^ "Owamagbe Odighizuwa, UCLA, DE, 2015 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  13. ^ "2015 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  14. ^ "Giants DE Owa Odighizuwa suspended for four games". NFL.com. August 28, 2017.
  15. ^ Eisen, Michael (August 29, 2017). "Giants release defensive end Owa Odighizuwa". Giants.com.
  16. ^ Brown, Chris (March 8, 2018). "Bills sign free agent DE Owa Odighizuwa". BuffaloBills.com. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  17. ^ "Bills add defensive end Ryan Russell". BuffaloBills.com. July 29, 2018.
  18. ^ Family matters: Why Osa Odighizuwa wants to advocate for mental health
  19. ^ Family matters: Why Osa Odighizuwa wants to advocate for mental health
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