Alex Okafor: 5 Things You Need to Know About the Texas DE

Texas defensive end Alex Okafor has seen his stock rise during the draft process, and I could see him possibly sneaking into the first round and at worst being a high second-round pick.

Okafor has the versatility to play either in a 3-4 as an outside linebacker or as a defensive end in a 4-3 defense, and he could provide a good pass rush to any defense.

Here are five things to know about Alex Okafor before the draft.

Combine results courtesy of NFL.com. College stats courtesy of Sports-Reference.com.

Background

Full Name: Alex Okafor

Birthday: February 8, 1991

Hometown: Pflugerville, Texas

High School: Pflugerville

Major: Corporate Communication

Year: Senior

Alex Okafor was an All-American and a two-time All-State performer as a defensive end in high school, and he was rated as the top DE in Texas by ESPNU at the time. Okafor was also a two-time letterman in basketball aside from lettering three times as a football player.

Information from Mackbrown-texasfootball.com.

Statistics

2009: 18 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss

2010: 28 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, 3.5 sacks

2011: 50 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, 7 sacks

2012: 54 total tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, 4 forced fumbles, 12.5 sacks

Okafor began his career as a defensive tackle at Texas, which is why his sack numbers were down his first two seasons. When given a chance on the outside, Okafor went off on opposing quarterbacks and compiled 19.5 sacks and six forced fumbles in his junior and senior seasons combined.

Stats from Sports Reference.

Draft Process

Measurables

Height: 6'4-1/2"

Weight: 264

Arm Length: 33-3/4”

Hand Size: 9-1/2”

Combine Results

Bench Press: 21

Pro Day Results

40 yard dash: 4.88

Alex Okafor was always seen as a decent pass-rushing prospect, but he really jumped out at scouts at the Senior Bowl. Unfortunately for Okafor, he suffered a bruised hip flexor and was then unable to do any field drills at the NFL combine. Okafor was able to bounce back at his Pro Day and showed he had the ability to play OLB for the teams playing a 3-4 defense.

Information from ESPN.com, NFLDraftscout.com and William Wilkerson.

Interesting Facts

Three Time Athletic Director’s Honor Roll Student At Texas.

Favorite Sports Legend: Michael Jordan.

Started his career as a defensive tackle at Texas.

Voted team co-captain his senior season along with S Kenny Vaccaro.

2012 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year as voted by CBSSports.com.

Recorded 4.5 sacks against Oregon State In The 2012 Alamo Bowl receiving Bowl MVP honors and setting Bowl record.

Information from Mackbrown-Texasfooball.com.

Observations

Todd McShay doesn’t have Okafor in the first round of his most recent mock draft and didn’t even have Okafor in the first two rounds in his previous mock.

Mel Kiper Jr. has Okafor going in the third round to the Tennessee Titans, pick 70, in his most recent mock draft.

Bleacher Report’s own Matt Miller had Okafor going in the first round to the Seattle Seahawks with the 25th overall pick—obviously before the trade with the Minnesota Vikings.

Walterfootball.com’s Charlie Campbell has Okafor going to the Detroit Lions in the second round with the 36th pick.