From Starting Football 10 Months Ago to Playing Division 1 Football: Emmanuel Okoye's Amazing Story

This is the story of Emmanuel Okoye from Lagos, Nigeria, who just over a year ago had dreams of being a basketball star. But having been discovered by Educational Basketball, was given the opportunity to try football by two-time Super Bowl champion Osi Umenyiora at the NFL Africa camp in Ghana.
His athletic ability and dedication earned him a place at the NFL Academy, a high school football program based in Loughborough College and University in the UK.
Here he developed as a defensive end, showcasing his talents on the field as well as during his combine testing where he JUMPED A 45.5” VERTICAL - which would be a NFL record for his position.
Following this, he received a string of Division 1 scholarship offers. After making his official visits, Emmanuel has committed to the University of Tennessee and will enroll in June.
Follow his journey and more like him on the official NFL Academy social channels:
/ nflacademy
/ nflacademy
/ nflacademy
Check out our other channels:
NFL Tuesday Night Gaming / nfltng
NFL Mundo / mundonfl
NFL Brasil / nflbrasiloficial
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NFL Fantasy Football / nflfantasyfootball
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NFL Throwback / nflvault
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NFL Network / nflnetwork
#NFL #Football #AmericanFootball

[@swissmrkc]

Wow those Tennessee alternate uniforms are pretty dope 👏👏

[@uflstallions_dynasty]

LETSGOOOOO it’s awesome to have this guy as a TENNESSEE VOLUNTEER! 🔥🔥🔥

[@educationalbasketball]

Today is a wonderful day. This is a generational prospect and when we first saw him, we knew this was on the horizon but his willingness to push the envelope, extend kindness to others & stay grounded in faith is something that will continue to take him to brilliant places. Love ya Emmanuel. More greatness ahead.

[@TheNavyguy44]

Everything you guys do is amazing. Thank you for discovering this kid and keep doing what you guys do.

[@claydog23]

Go Vols!!! Love it.

[@davidcollins3534]

Let’s go big orange welcome to the vols family

[@timelliott2444]

He is going to be special! GBO

[@MM-br8tt]

Go Vols!

[@chucknastyness]

Coachable, humble, and crazy athletic, welcome to the SEC!!

[@bigblade9518]

So happy he chose the Vols. Can't wait to see him develop under Garner and Heupel.

[@bryanroberts]

GBO!!!!!

[@AaronKelley]

Can't wait to see this guy on the field at NEYLAND! GO VOLS! 🍊🍊

[@DaChris00]

Fuggen love this dude. Lets go Okoye! Go Big Orange!

[@wutamamama]

#GBO. Let's go baby!!! Man, what a story. I hope he rips it up in the league and mauls over some teams. #GoVols

[@pbc_03]

His stats and personality are amazing. Glad he chose the vols

[@jonsolomon4814]

Let’s go Vols! Can’t wait to see him in the Orange and White! GBO 🍊🏈

[@eloygon2705]

Good luck Okoye!

[@nikkicovington6389]

THAT’S AWESOME STORY! I LOVE IT!

[@nashvegas4476]

Vols by 100, book it!!! GBO!!!

[@dwsdrummer81]

GBO 🍊🍊

[@nielminor7529]

This is wild. There's a NFL academy in England???!?!? We TN fans are learning something new.

[@InterloperBob]

He's the next Byron Young. What a journey.

[@marcquissimon3504]

Awesome story, love it!

[@jonas.zehnder]

Such a passionate and overall great guy. Nice to get to know about his story. Will be rooting for him and wishing him only the best on his path to the NFL.

[@crawdadwatson]

Go big ORANGE. Welcome to UT

[@robertpewitt8935]

Go Vols. Love the Nigerian character and work ethic

[@davidcollins3534]

Gods plan

[@foxtown7662]

Let’s GO VOLS!!!Derek Barnett and now he can add to our D line.Tenn is finally starting to get right where they used to be!!Josh Heupel is really working hard!

[@christianobidi8424]

A bro just showed me this video and it's so inspiring. I'm really proud of you Emmanuel. may you continue to soar higher and higher mehn.

[@stingray8585]

Coach Hype knows how to recruit GBO!

[@lorettaspivey3250]

Wow this year is going to be amazing !! 🙏 prayers for great health and stay strong

[@GTLGoat]

What a goat🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@jesswattlesworth9071]

There’s a player in the nfl this year as a udfa that only started playing football 3 years ago. His first year being in college. His name is Chim Okorafor. He was a college basketball player.

[@perrycrowell2953]

I’m excited he chose Hype & the Vols.

[@NTKHZN]

GB🍊

[@callmeBABY.999]

Thumbnail got be for a sec 😅

[@wisdomendurance695]

Please i Want to be an American football player, i don't know how to Join the academy and i don't even know where it is, please can someone help me out

[@coolguy1367]

Where you located

[@Only1Kizz]

West African genetics are absolutely crazy, probably the reason why black Americans are athletic as they are. They can trace their ancestry from west Africa.

[@johanruiz3422]

Most but other Africans such as Kenyans and Ugandans have good genetics 🧬 too

[@npierce14]

Lol I’m all for nfl expanding beyond the states but idk why I think this nfl academy is so funny lol

[@nielminor7529]

It should be called money maker school.

[@danieldesmond3422]

Proof football isn’t that hard

[@johanruiz3422]

Well it’s only hard and won’t enjoy it if you don’t have the passion or confidence or mentality to play

[@nickcollins5315]

He need to bulk up ASAP

[@juniorbeckham2928]

Dude he's not Small lol, he'll have time tho he's a freshman

[@samuel_shemire]

he is a 6'5 230 lbs freshman

[@nickcollins5315]

@@samuel_shemire he’s a skinny 230 you saw that upper body

[@samuel_shemire]

@@nickcollins5315 I get you. By the time he is leaving college, he should be over 250 if he makes it to the nfl.

[@nickcollins5315]

@@samuel_shemire I agree I was just saying my first thought and the position they are wanting him to play the man would get bullied right now. I hope he develops and becomes a beast honestly

[@DaChris00]

Fuggen love this dude. Lets go Okoye! Go Big Orange!