Nigerians Who Will Join NFL In 2021

With the new NFL season right around the corner, it is time to reflect on some of the athlete transfers and new names that might become legends in the NFL world.

This year’s NFL Draft was announced virtually and we got a list of names that have a lot of potential of becoming successful NFL athletes.

Out of all names, we can point out seven Nigerians who find themselves in the top 3 rounds, so let’s dig deeper and find out what they have to offer.

Odafe Jayson Owen – Baltimore Ravens

Odafe Jayson Oweh is a Nigerian-American athlete playing as an outside linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL. This 6 feet 5 inches R-Sophomore Class player was selected by the Baltimore Ravens with the 31^st pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

In his last 13 games, Odafe accumulated five sacks and two forced fumbles for the Nittany Lions and was ranked as the top 100 overall recruits nationally.

The shocking fact is that Odafe was actually perusing his Basketball dream until his junior year at New Jersey’s Blair Academy, after changing to football.

Ifetau Charles-David Meilifonwu – Detroit Lions

Here we have another Nigerian-American football player playing as a cornerback for the Detroit Lions. He is an R-Junior class player selected in the 101^st pick at this year’s Draft after having an impressive high-school career leading the Orange with eight pass breakups in nine games.

He started all 11 games played by his squad last season, and he is definitely one of the most promising athletes that will join the NFL.

Levi Onwuzurike – Detroit Lions

Levi Onwuzurike is also a Nigerian-American football player that will be on the first line of defense for the Detroit Lions. Levi, with an impressive college football career, was drafted 41^st overall by the Lions in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

He had a rather impressive high-school career receiving the Dallas morning News’ All-Area Defense Player of the Year 2015, and he also earned his first-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2019. He is a promising player that can bring a lot to the Detroit Lions in the NFL.

Osa Odighizuwa – Dallas Cowboys

Here we have another defensive tackle Nigerian-American football player that used to play at UCLA. He is 6 feet 2 inches R-Senior Class player drafted in the 75^th overall third round, by the Dallas Cowboys.

He also had a successful college career where he found himself in the first-team all-conference selection in the Pac-12 as a senior in 2020.

Azeez Ojulari – New York Giants

Azeez Ojulari is a Nigerian-American linebacker for the New York Giants and he is an absolute unit. Being a 6 feet 2 inches R-Sophomore Class player, he was selected by the New York Giants in the second round, 50^th overall of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Even though he is young, he still managed to get few impressive accomplishments behind his name being a four-star recruit that led the Bulldogs with 5.5 sacks in 2019 and he was also the co-winner of the team’s Most Improved Defensive Player with 13 stars in 14 games.

Temidayo Jordan Odeyingbo – Indianapolis Colts

Temidayo Jordan Odeyingbo is a Senior Class Player coming at 6 feet 6 inches playing in the defensive end in the Indianapolis Colts. He was selected as the 54^th overall pick in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Temidayo has few achievements behind his name earning four-star recruit at Carrolton Ranchview High School and has led the Vanderbilt defense line in 2012 with his brother Dare staring 10 of 12 games.

Joseph Ossai – Cincinnati Bengals

Joseph moves to the United States at the age of 10, and since then he decided to peruse his NFL career becoming a finalist for the Huston Touchdown Club’s Defensive Player of the year, and an impressive top-150 overall recruit nationally.

He is a Junior Class player coming in at 6 feet 4 inches and was selected in the 3^rd round of the 68^th overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft. Who knows, maybe Ossai will soon figure in TwinSpires Edge list of the players with most rushing yards. Only time will tell!