Don’t Call It A Comeback: Chig Okonkwo Returns To The Field

One year ago, Maryland football tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo did not know if he would play football again. 

After suffering from intense chest pain that was getting worse, Okonkwo was rushed to the hospital and was told something that almost did not sound real to him. 

A doctor informed the tight end his season was over before it began and that his entire career was in jeopardy.

"The MRI showed that I had some scarring on my heart and that’s when they told me that I had myocarditis,” said Okonkwo. “They told me that I had to sit out for six months, so I knew then that my season was over.”

The senior was crushed. The game he loves was being taken from him and there was nothing he could do about it. 

The only thing Okonkwo could control was his attitude, and instead of sulking and feeling sorry for himself, he decided to be the best possible teammate he could be. 

“I tried to support the guys as much as I could,” Okonkwo said. “I didn’t want to be around the team at the time because I wasn’t vaccinated and the team was still managing COVID outbreaks. So, I thought I shouldn’t be around them until my heart was done healing.”

There were days Okonkwo spent alone in his room, and those were the toughest days for the Powder Springs, Georgia native. 

“I was pretty much in my room the entire time and my roommate Brian (Cobbs) would come over and we’d talk and I’d give him advice for him and my teammates,” Okonkwo said. “That was tough but my teammates helped get me through it.”

Okonkwo was determined to continue playing football and did everything possible to get cleared. This past spring, one of Okonkwo’s doctor visits resulted in the best news he could hear: he was cleared to return to Maryland football.     

With his heart healthy and his mind right, Okonkwo was ready to make a difference.

“I feel great right now,” Okonkwo said. “I feel healthy and strong and I’m really loving the state of the team right now and the culture. I’m loving the way the young guys came in to work and I love the way the older guys have taken responsibility for the team. It’s been a tough journey and recovery, but I’m back.”

There was a level of excitement around the return of Okonkwo. During the preseason he was named to the John Mackey Award Watch List, which honors the best tight ends in the entire country.

Okonkwo is living up to those lofty expectations and is thriving in the offense alongside quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, receivers Dontay Demus Jr. and Rakim Jarrett, and running back Tayon Fleet-Davis. 

Through the first three games of the season, Okonkwo has four receptions for 22 yards and two touchdowns, helping to lead his team to a perfect 3-0 record. 

Having Okonkwo back has made a world of difference for a Maryland offense that wants to get the tight ends more involved. 

Offensive coordinator Dan Enos has utilized the tight end a lot in his career at other schools. Some of Enos's former players like Jeremy Sprinkle, Irv Smith Jr., Hale Hentges, and Brevin Jordan became NFL players after starring under his system.

Okonkwo sees himself as the next tight end who can benefit from the system and help be yet another weapon for Tagovailoa. 

“The tight end position is very important for what we want to do,” Enos said. “They’re the players outside of the quarterback who need to know how to do everything. They block, they run routes and they have to catch the ball. I think Chig can do a lot of great things this season because does all of those things very well.”

Enos has employed a lot of two-tight end sets this season, with Okonkwo, Corey Dyches, and CJ Dippre all seeing playing time this year. Not only has the influx of tight ends helped Tagovailoa, but it has also helped the running backs by opening up more running lanes. 

Okonkwo takes pride in his ability to both block and catch, and head coach Michael Locksley sees him as the ultimate weapon in the Maryland offense because of it. 

“As we continue to get through the season, you’ll see more and more what Chig’s skill set is,” Locksley said. “He’ll be a major playmaker for us in our system.”

Despite not playing with each other last season, Tagovailoa sees Okonkwo as a sure hand and someone he can count on, especially in the red zone. 

So far this season, both of Okonkwo’s touchdowns have come in the red zone, with the second one being a diving grab against Howard. When the Maryland offense is down near the goal line, Okonkwo only has one thing on his mind. 

“Score,” Okonkwo said. “If I get the ball, I have to score.”

While everyone wants touchdowns and not field goals, Locksley is not overly concerned about who the scorers are. What he likes about Okonkwo is not just his versatility but his ability to draw attention away from other players like Dontay Demus Jr. and Rakim Jarrett. 

As a senior, Okonkwo is one of the few players who predates the current regime, and during his career, he has been utilized a multitude of different ways, whether it be through the air or on the ground. 

With three career-rushing touchdowns to Okonkwo’s name, Locksley knows he has another weapon at his disposal anytime he wants to use him. 

“He’s a matchup problem,” Locksley said. “He’s a guy that we’re going to continue to try and find ways to get him the ball.”

Everyone in the Maryland football program is excited to have Okonkwo back in the fold. However, after a year of adversity and uncertainty, no one is more excited than Okonkwo himself.

Despite that uncertainty, he has never been more certain. He’s back and he’s ready to play football. 

“I’m happy and I’m healthy,” Okonkwo said with a smile. “Time to just go have fun and play some football.”