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Alex Okafor | Defensive End

Team: Texas Longhorns
Age / DOB:  (22) / 2/8/1991
Ht / Wt:  6'4' / 260

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Recent News

Cardinals drafted Texas DE/OLB Alex Okafor with the No. 103 overall pick.
Okafor (6-foot-5, 264) played defensive tackle before converting to end for his junior and senior campaigns. He rallied for 22 career sacks, 40 tackles for loss, and eight forced fumbles. Okafor lacks flash -- he ran 4.89 at his Pro Day and offers little variety in his pass-rush moves -- but he was a finisher in the Big 12 and can win with strong hands and and length. Okafor isn't special in any area, but does everything pretty well. A value pick at the top of round four, Okafor will push for immediate snaps behind underwhelming Cardinals OLBs Sam Acho and O'Brien Schofield. Apr 27 - 12:25 PM

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Player News

Date:
Alex Okafor - DL - Longhorns

Texas DE Alex Okafor is now ranked as Mike Mayock's fifth overall player among 4-3 edge pass rushers.

Okafor is tied with Tank Carradine for the fifth slot. Bjoern Werner tops the rankings at the position, followed by Ezekiel Ansah, Damontre Moore, and Sam Montgomery. Datone Jones, Margus Hunt, and William Gholston are all listed under 3-4 defensive ends. Okafor isn't a flashy prospect, but he is willing to use his hands and length to create space and shed.
Source: NFL.com
Mar 8 - 9:03 AM
Alex Okafor - DL - Longhorns

NFL Network's Mike Mayock says Texas DE/OLB Alex Okafor is in the second- to third-round range.

Okafor's value has long been debated by many. He shined this season but there are still questions as to what kind of pass-rusher he can be. Although he uses his hands well, he has to expand his pass rush repertoire.
Source: Orlando Sentinel
Feb 21 - 5:56 PM
Alex Okafor - DL - Longhorns

Texas senior DE Alex Okafor was credited with six tackles for loss, including 4.5 sacks, and a forced fumble against Oregon State.

It was quite a night for Okafor, but Oregon State's right tackle certainly isn't tough competition. Still, Okafor displayed what he does best, extending with strength and shedding with active hands to make a play when pass rushing. He's a likely top-75 pick due to the lack of a great first step but solid hand use.
Sun, Dec 30, 2012 08:14:00 PM
Alex Okafor - DL - Longhorns

Texas DE Alex Okafor has accepted his invitation to the Senior Bowl.

Some in the draft community are disappointed in Okafor, specifically his perceived lack of burst around the edge. However, the Longhorn could do very well down in Mobile due to strong hands and length. If Okafor does impress all week, a first-round selection is not out of the discussion.
Source: Senior Bowl on Twitter
Wed, Dec 19, 2012 02:24:00 PM
Alex Okafor - DL - Longhorns

Texas will play Oregon State in the Alamo Bowl on December 29.

Senior defensive end Alex Okafor could use a consistent performance, like the one he had against West Virginia. The Longhorn is a power rusher but too often he is handled at the line of scrimmage. For the Beavers, receiver Markus Wheaton is a difficult vertical cover, so safety Kenny Vaccaro would do well to not let anything behind him. Oregon State senior Jordan Poyer is also one of the best corners in the country.
Source: ESPN
Wed, Dec 5, 2012 04:12:00 PM
Alex Okafor - DL - Longhorns

NFL scouts told The Sideline View's Lance Zierlein that Texas senior DE Alex Okafor "will be solid in the NFL."

We are quite high on Okafor, who may not have the same flashy first step or burst of other pass rushers in this class, but his powerful frame and strong hands to push the pocket are very good qualities. These scouts were mainly focusing on the Texas, Oklahoma contest, but Okafor showed off his backside pressure ability against West Virginia and the best pocket manipulator in college football, Geno Smith. Okafor has 6.5 tackles for loss on the season, six of which were sacks.
Source: Lance Zierlein on Twitter
Thu, Oct 18, 2012 11:50:00 AM
Alex Okafor - DL - Longhorns

Texas senior DE Alex Okafor was credited with two sacks and two forced fumbles, to go along with three quarterback hurries, during Saturday's game against West Virginia.

Okafor had his way with the Mountaineer offensive line and in many cases Geno Smith, who is one of the best pocket manipulators in college football. Okafor may not have the top-end, flashy burst off the line, but he wins with powerful hands, extension, and strong legs to push the pocket and shed at the quarterback.
Mon, Oct 8, 2012 12:44:00 PM
Alex Okafor - DL - Longhorns

Texas' Alex Okafor is the most well-rounded senior DE in the country, according to CBS Sports' Rob Rang.

Rang explains that Okafor's time at defensive tackle during his sophomore season helped teach hand placement, balance in trash, and improved his strength. Last season, Okafor continuously knocked offensive linemen on their heels on first contact and tallied 12.5 tackles for loss including seven sacks. The Longhorn holds the edge nicely on outside runs and projects as a left defensive end in the NFL.
Source: CBS Sports
Sat, Jul 14, 2012 10:45:00 AM
Alex Okafor - DL - Longhorns

Texas senior DE Alex Okafor will not receive game suspensions following an arrest in May when he refused to leave a restaurant.

Senior safety Kenny Vaccaro and former Longhorn Barrett Matthews were also arrested. The trio was charged at the time with failure to obey, a misdemeanor offense, but the charges have since been dropped. The matter is apparently being handled internally going forward. Okafor and Vaccaro are key figures on Texas' defense and both could be early picks in April.
Source: ESPN
Fri, Jun 22, 2012 11:08:00 AM
Alex Okafor - DL - Longhorns

After transitioning to the inside last season, Alex Okafor’s move back to end should bolster the Texas defense.

Moving Okafor back to DE makes sense on multiple fronts, not the least of which is to help buy time for an inexperienced secondary. At 260 pounds, the junior is better suited to playing on the edge and whose pass-rush ability is like to have opposing offensive coordinators on edge. While an improved pass rush can aid the secondary’s development, Texas DC Manny Diaz also needs a game-breaker. From his end spot, Okafor will be in much better position to get into the quarterback’s kitchen and force the issue.
Source: statesman.com
Tue, Aug 16, 2011 03:27:00 PM