#42 Julian Okwara 2018-19 Football Roster

HONORS & AWARDS

• Team captain (2019)
• Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week (2019 Week 5 vs. Virginia)
• Pro Football Focus National Defensive Team of the Week (2019 Week 5 vs. Virginia)
• Game ball recipient (2019 – Virginia)
• AP Presason Second Team All-American (2019)
• Nagurski Trophy Watch List (2019)

SENIOR SEASON (2019)

• Started all nine games before suffering a season-ending injury at Duke
• Recorded 18 tackles, 6.0 TFL, 4.0 sacks, seven QB hurries, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery, while also blocking a kick
• Had a PFF grade of 92.3 in victory over Virginia, making three sacks and forcing a pair of fumbles

JUNIOR SEASON (2018)

• Played in all 13 games, starting the last 12
• Totaled 38 tackles, 12.5 for loss with eight sacks and 21 QB hurries
• Led the team in tackles for loss and tied for first in sacks
• Had seven QB hurries against Pitt, adding a tackle for loss
• Recorded an interception in the win over No. 14 Michigan

SOPHOMORE SEASON (2017)

• Appeared in 12 games
• Only missed the Navy contest (Nov. 18)
• Registered 17 tackles, including 10 solo stops, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one interception
• Picked up first career sack against Temple (Sept. 2)
• Recorded three tackles, including one for a loss, and forced a fumble at Boston College (Sept. 16)
• Recorded two solo tackles, three quarterback hurries and one interception at North Carolina (Oct. 7)
• Registered three tackles, one for loss at Miami, Fla. (Nov. 11)
• Collected a sack in the bowl victory over LSU (Jan. 1)

FRESHMAN SEASON (2016)

• Appeared in 11 games for the Irish
• One of nine true freshmen (Julian Love, Devin Studstill, Donte Vaughn, Jalen Elliott, Troy Pride Jr., Daelin Hayes, Chase Claypool and Jamir Jones) who played in at least eight games
• One of eight true freshmen (Julian Love, Devin Studstill, Donte Vaughn, Jalen Elliott, Troy Pride Jr., Daelin Hayes and Jamir Jones) on defense who played in at least eight games
• Saw his first collegiate action at Texas (Sept. 4)
• Recorded four tackles on the season
• Regitered his first tackle in the home opener against Nevada (Sept. 10)

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA

• Moved to United States from Nigeria as a third-grader
• First-team defensive lineman on all-Observer squad by Charlotte Observer for 2015
• Selected to participate in the North Carolina-South Carolina Shrine Bowl
• Registered 84 tackles, 70 solo stops, 11.0 tackles for loss, nine sacks and eight quarterback hurries in 12 games as a senior in 2015
• Added four forced fumbles, one pass defended and one blocked field goal
• Caught four passes for 63 yards (15.8 yards per reception) and two TDs, including a season-long reception of 49 yards
• Recorded 90 tackles, 10 sacks and forced a pair of fumbles as a junior in 2014
• No. 243-ranked player nationally and No. 30-ranked defensive end on Scout.com 300 list
• No. 49-ranked defensive end by ESPN
• No. 298-ranked player in the nation and No. 24-ranked weak side defensive end on 247Sports.com
• No. 18-ranked weak side defensive end on Rivals.com
• No. 303-ranked player on the PrepStar Top 350 Dream Team
• No. 198-ranked player on the Tom Lemming Prep Football Report
• North Carolina’s No. 13-ranked player by 247Sports, No. 6-ranked player by Scout, No. 14-ranked player by ESPN and No. 17-ranked player by Rivals
• Played for coach Joe Evans at Ardrey Kell High School
• Younger brother of former Irish defensive line standout and current member of the New York Giants Romeo Okwara ‘15
• Enrolled in the Mendoza College of Business, majoring in management consulting