LAS VEGAS, NV -- Maryland football tight end
Chigoziem Okonkwo is preparing for the East-West Shrine Bowl, which will take place this Thursday, February 3 at 8:00 p.m. EST and air on the NFL Network.
Okonkwo has been in Las Vegas since last week where he has met with NFL teams, spoken to the media and participated in four practices. The All-Big Ten tight end opened the eyes of both scouts and media through the first few days of practice.
Via Pro Football Network from Day One: "
Chigoziem Okonkwo was the best tight end on the field today. As I tweeted earlier, he looks like a possession wideout playing tight end with his ability to get down the field and effortlessly come away with the catch."
And Day Two: "A possession receiver in a tight end's body,
Chigoziem Okonkwo was dominant in individual drills as well as in team and 7-on-7 drills. He proved to be too much for linebackers to stick with and routinely made plays over defensive backs. Okonkwo put on quite a show for Maryland this season, and he's continued that so far in Vegas.
"
Come Day Three on Monday when he was already on people's radar, Chig SHINED.
Via Pro Football Network: "Snagging a one-handed grab during one-on-ones, Maryland TE
Chigoziem Okonkwo was dominant on Day 3. He made multiple plays during the one-on-ones as well as team drills, and he was uncoverable by linebackers. They utilized him all over the formation and from a number of alignments — and he won all the same. Okonkwo runs like a gazelle and has sure hands at the catch point. He's difficult to cover and also showed promise in the run game."
Great story by The Draft Network:
Chigoziem Okonkwo Was Monday's Star of Shrine Bowl Practice
Let's watch the tape:
"I was very surprised when we got the playbook because it was the exact same playbook that we ran at Maryland," said Okonkwo. "So everything I'm doing at Maryland I come out here and do. I feel very comfortable doing everything."
Hear from Chig himself:
Okonkwo had a phenomenal 2021 season for the record-breaking Terps passing offense, hauling in 52 catches for 447 yards and five touchdowns. He ranked first in the Big Ten in receptions in conference games (41) and second in receiving touchdowns (five). He hauled in 12 receptions against Penn State, the second-most in a game by any Big Ten player this season, and his 112 receiving yards at Michigan State were the second-most by any tight end in a Big Ten game this season.
