Ohio State Overview
• Will be remembered as one of the great cornerbacks for a school rich in cornerback/defensive back history.
• The first Ohio State cornerback to earn unanimous All-America honors
• Announced on New Year’s Day that he would be foregoing his senior season at Ohio State in 2020 to make himself available for the NFL Draft
• Earned first-team All-America recognition in 2019 by the Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, Walter Camp, American Football Coaches Association and The Sporting News
• While Ohio State has produced four first-round NFL Draft cornerbacks in the past four years with Okudah expected to make that five-in-five in April, the school has seen just one of those players – Denzel Ward in 2017 – earn first-team All-America honors. Prior to Ward, the last cornerback named first-team All-American was Roby in 2012
• Is now one of Ohio State’s 32 Big Ten-leading total of unanimous All-Americans
• He and Chase Young give Ohio State a total of 87 consensus All-Americans to rank second nationally among all FBS schools (Notre Dame, 102)
• In 2019, Okudah was a finalist for the Thorpe Award, which honors the nation’s outstanding defensive back, and started every game for the 13-1 Buckeyes, who extended a run of outright Big Ten Conference championships to a league record three consecutive years
• Intercepted the first three passes of his career – vs. Miami and two vs. Nebraska – and had nine pass break-ups and two forced fumbles to go along with 35 tackles (29 solo)
• Was a huge part of a defense that was No. 2 nationally in fewest passing yards allowed (156.0 per game), No. 2 in pass efficiency defense (97.50) and No. 1 in total defense, allowing just 259.7 yards per game
• Caps his career having played in 41 games with 15 starts
• His career statistics include 88 tackles (68 solo) and a total of 21 passes defended (18 break-ups and three interceptions)
• Was majoring in communications and had earned OSU Scholar-Athlete status
Noteable Note
• Okudah is one of only four Ohio State defensive backs to be awarded unanimous All-America status, after Jack Tatum in 1970, Michael Doss in 2002 and Malik Hooker in 2016
• Doss and Hooker each played safety
• Tatum, it has been learned, played more of a linebacker/safety position – perhaps he was the original “bullet” – giving Okudah the unique honor of being the only unanimous All-American at cornerback for a program that has produced All-Americans such as Shawn Springs, Antoine Winfield, Malcolm Jenkins, Bradley Roby and Ward
More on Jeff
• Enrolled in classes at Ohio State is January of 2017
• U.S. Army All-American Jeffrey Okudah was a unanimous 5-star recruit and considered the No. 1 cornerback prospect in the nation by 247Sports and the No. 1 safety prospect according to both Rivals and ESPN
• Considered one of the Top 10 players in the nation overall, with 247Sports and ESPN ranking him No. 7, and Scout and Rivals Nos. 12 and 16, respectively
• A tremendous athlete who also had the No. 2 cornerback ranking as a senior by Scout
• One of the Top 2 players out of talent-rich Texas this recruiting cycle and an American Family Insurance all-USA defensive back
• Posted 43 tackles, five pass break-ups and 795 total offensive yards in helping South Grand Prairie, coached by Brent Whitson, to the Texas class 6A state playoffs in 2016
• Named second-team Class 6A all-state as a senior by the Associated Press
• Averaged over 24 yards per catch as a receiver in 2015 and also contributed 46 tackles and four pass break-ups
• Finished second, to Ohio State teammate J.K. Dobbins, at the Nike+ football ratings competition at The Opening in Beaverton, Ore.
• Is the son of the late Marie Okudah
• His guardians are Jane and Patrick Obodo.