FROM THE SHOE TO THE SHOW: A LOOK BACK AT THE OHIO STATE CAREER HIGHLIGHTS OF NFL DRAFT PROSPECT JEFF OKUDAH
Another new group of Buckeyes are about to officially become NFL players, so we’re taking a look back at the best highlights from their Ohio State careers in From the Shoe to the Show.
Ohio State is set to be one of the most well-represented schools in the NFL draft once again in 2020, with more than a dozen players who are expected to either be drafted or sign as undrafted free agents when this year’s draft is held later this month (April 23-25).
After starting with a look back at the highlights from Chase Young’s years in scarlet and gray, we continue with another five-star prospect from the class of 2017 – Jeff Okudah – who is now in line to potentially be a top-five NFL draft pick three years later.
Okudah’s primary job isn’t to make big plays, but to prevent big plays being made against him, and he did an excellent job of that at Ohio State, especially in 2019. Because of the nature of the position he plays, Okudah doesn’t have as many obvious highlight-reel plays as most other top draft prospects, as a cornerback as dominant as Okudah doesn’t typically have the ball thrown his way very often.
Nonetheless, we’ve gone back through his Ohio State career to highlight some of his shining moments on the field – and a few from off the field – to demonstrate why Okudah is not only set to be Ohio State’s sixth first-round cornerback since 2014, but a player who should be remembered fondly by Buckeye fans for many years to come.
TRIBUTES TO HIS MOTHER
One of Okudah’s most memorable moments as a Buckeye came on the day he committed to Ohio State, in January 2017, when he released a letter through The Players Tribune to his mother Marie, who battled lymphoma throughout his childhood. Marie died later that month, but Okudah’s penned tribute ensured the world would know just how big an impact his mother had on his life.
“Mom, you’ve done such an amazing job raising my sister and me. Now that she’s off at Texas A&M and I’m headed to Ohio State, you might think your work is done. You’ve always said that you would be content with your life once you saw both of us attending college.
“But just you wait, Mom. You’ve spent your whole life giving me the support I needed to achieve my dreams. Someday soon, I promise you, I’m going to help you live yours.”
Okudah’s mother never got to see him play at Ohio State, but his desire to keep his promise to his mother fueled him throughout his career with the Buckeyes and will continue to fuel him at the next level. On January 1, when he announced he would enter this year’s NFL draft, The Players Tribune published another letter from Okudah to his mother, in which he thanked her for helping him become the man he is today.
“Maybe I can’t reach out and hug you. Maybe I can’t call you up and talk to you about life, or classes, or about how such and such should have been a touchdown, and are these refs blind?! Maybe I won’t be able to have you there physically, sitting by my side, holding my hand on Draft Day in a new dress that we just bought.
“But you’re still here. You’ve always been here. You were here when I was trying to figure out life as a new student in those first few months after you passed. You were here when I was mapping out my goals as a defensive back with Coach Coombs on that board. You were here when I was welcoming this new coach of ours, Coach Hafley, with an open mind. You were here with me all season long, from the first practice to the last whistle, as I played the best football of my career. You were here for me after we lost in the semis to Clemson, in a game I wanted so bad — and thought we were good enough to win. You were here with me as I sat down to write this letter.
“And as I get going on this next journey of mine, and say goodbye to Ohio State and start the process leading up to April’s NFL draft — I know you’re going to be here with me then, too.”
Entire article (with several videos):
https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...-highlights-of-nfl-draft-prospect-jeff-okudah
