Albert Okwuegbunam
{{Short description|American football player (born 1998)}}
{{Use American English|date = September 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Albert Okwuegbunam
| image =
| caption =
| current_team = Indianapolis Colts
| number = 84
| position = Tight end
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1998|4|25}}
| birth_place = Springfield, Illinois, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lb = 258
| high_school = Sacred Heart-Griffin (Springfield)
| college = Missouri (2016–2019)
| draftyear = 2020
| draftround = 4
| draftpick = 118
| pastteams =
- Denver Broncos ({{NFL Year|2020}}–{{NFL Year|2022}})
- Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|2023|2024}})
- Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|2024}}–present)*
| status = Active
| highlights =
| statleague = NFL
| statseason = 2024
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 54
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 546
| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue3 = 4
| pfr = OkwuAl00
}}
Albert Chukwuemeka Okwuegbunam ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|oʊ|k|w|u|'|eɪ|b|u|n|ɑː|m}} {{respell|OH|kwoo|AY|boo|nahm}};{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuciQ7HSV3E&t=20s|title=Albert Okwuegbunam: Path to the Pros 2020|date=April 9, 2020|website=Youtube|access-date=August 18, 2022}} born April 25, 1998) is an American professional football tight end for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Missouri Tigers.
Early life
Okwuegbunam attended Sacred Heart-Griffin High School in Springfield, Illinois.{{Cite web |last=Mahan |first=Ryan |date=August 22, 2015 |title=CS8 football preview: Albert Okwuegbunam stands tall for loaded SHG |url=https://www.sj-r.com/article/20150822/SPORTS/150829853 |access-date=October 21, 2018 |website=The State Journal-Register |publisher=GateHouse Media}} He played wide receiver for the football team. He committed to the University of Missouri to play college football.{{Cite web |last=Webster |first=Brian |date=September 19, 2015 |title=SHG receiver Albert Okwuegbunam makes verbal commitment to Missouri |url=http://www.sj-r.com/article/20150919/SPORTS/150919418 |access-date=October 21, 2018 |website=The State Journal-Register |publisher=GateHouse Media}}
College career
After redshirting his first year at Missouri in 2016, Okwuegbunam played in all 13 games in 2017 and recorded 29 receptions for 415 yards and 11 touchdowns.{{Cite web |last=Matter |first=Dave |date=August 2, 2018 |title=Matter's Mizzou camp countdown: What can Albert O. do for an encore? |url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/college/mizzou/matter-s-mizzou-camp-countdown-what-can-albert-o-do/article_0543deb6-0278-54d7-87ac-34589ff832ee.html |access-date=October 21, 2018 |website=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |publisher=Lee Enterprises}}{{Cite web |last=Matter |first=Dave |date=October 25, 2017 |title='Albert O' soars into spotlight for Mizzou |url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/college/mizzou/albert-o-soars-into-spotlight-for-mizzou/article_90bbb34c-0115-5fc2-96a7-ddffc120fe3b.html |access-date=October 21, 2018 |website=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |publisher=Lee Enterprises}} He returned as Missouri's starter in 2018.{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Eric |date=August 4, 2018 |title=NOTEBOOK: Okwuegbunam looks to build on freshman campaign | Mizzou Football |url=https://www.columbiamissourian.com/sports/mizzou_football/notebook-okwuegbunam-looks-to-build-on-freshman-campaign/article_d4d4bcb4-982b-11e8-b2ed-1f6ecd356169.html |access-date=October 21, 2018 |website=Columbia Missourian}}{{Cite web |last=Teague-Robinson |first=Cameron |date=August 25, 2018 |title=The big 'O' in Missouri's offense |url=http://www.columbiatribune.com/sports/20180825/big-o-in-missouris-offense |access-date=October 21, 2018 |website=Columbia Daily Tribune |publisher=GateHouse Media}} Following the 2019 season, Okwuegbunam decided to forgo his final year of eligibility and declared for the 2020 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Terada, Souic |date=December 2, 2019 |title=Mizzou tight end Albert Okwuegbunam declares for NFL, leaves one year early |url=https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/sec/university-of-missouri/article237955054.html |access-date=December 17, 2019 |website=kansascity.com}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 5 1/2
| weight = 258
| dash = 4.49
| ten split = 1.56
| twenty split = 2.62
| shuttle =
| cone drill =
| vertical =
| broad ft =
| broad in =
| bench =
| arm span = 34 1/8
| hand span = 10 1/4
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |title=Albert Okwuegbunam Combine Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/albert-okwuegbunam/32194f4b-5748-5869-ee3e-85d5399ce937 |access-date=October 1, 2020 |website=NFL.com}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1018332&DraftYear=2020 |title=2020 Draft Scout Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile |website=draftscout.com |access-date=June 8, 2022}}
}}
=Denver Broncos=
Okwuegbunam was selected by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round with the 118th overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft, reuniting with his former Missouri teammate, Drew Lock.{{Cite news |last=Murry |first=Thomas |date=April 25, 2020 |title=Denver Broncos draft Mizzou's Albert Okwuegbunam |work=ABC 17 |url=https://abc17news.com/news/2020/04/25/denver-broncos-draft-mizzous-albert-okwuegbunam/ |access-date=April 27, 2020}} He made his NFL debut in Week 6 of the 2020 season against the New England Patriots. He had two receptions for 45 yards in the 18–12 victory.{{Cite web |title=Denver Broncos at New England Patriots - October 18th, 2020 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202010180nwe.htm |access-date=October 22, 2020 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He was placed on injured reserve on November 10, 2020, with a torn ACL.{{Cite web |last=DiLalla |first=Aric |date=November 10, 2020 |title=Broncos awarded CB De'Vante Bausby off waivers |url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-awarded-cb-de-vante-bausby-off-waivers |access-date=October 8, 2023 |website=DenverBroncos.com}}
On October 9, 2021, Okwuegbunam was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.{{Cite web |last=DiLalla |first=Aric |date=October 9, 2021 |title=Broncos activate CB Ronald Darby from injured reserve |url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-activate-cb-ronald-darby-from-injured-reserve |access-date=October 8, 2023 |website=DenverBroncos.com}} He was activated on October 30.{{Cite web |last=DiLalla |first=Aric |date=October 30, 2021 |title=Broncos activate WR Jerry Jeudy, TE Albert Okwuegbunam, ILB Jonas Griffith from IR to 53-man roster |url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-activate-wr-jerry-jeudy-te-albert-okwuegbunam-ilb-jonas-griffith-from-ir |access-date=October 8, 2023 |website=DenverBroncos.com}}
In 2022, Okwuegbunam played in 8 games for Denver, catching 10 passes for 95 yards and one touchdown.{{Cite web|title=Albert Okwuegbunam 2022 Stats|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/4035115/albert-okwuegbunam|access-date=October 10, 2023|website=espn.com|language=en}}
=Philadelphia Eagles=
On August 29, 2023, Okwuegbunam was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles along with a 2025 seventh round pick for the Eagles’ 2025 sixth round pick.{{Cite web |last=Alper |first=Josh |date=August 29, 2023 |title=Broncos trade Albert Okwuegbunam to Eagles instead of waiving him |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/broncos-trade-albert-okwuegbunam-to-eagles-instead-of-waiving-him |access-date=August 29, 2023 |website=NBC Sports}}
On February 23, 2024, Okwuegbunam signed a one-year contract extension with the Eagles.{{Cite web |last=Boyle |first=Owen |date=February 23, 2024 |title=Eagles sign Albert Okwuegbunam to contract extension |url=https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-sign-albert-okwuegbunam-to-contract-extension |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=PhiladelphiaEagles.com}} He was placed on injured reserve on August 27.{{Cite web |date=August 27, 2024 |title=Get your first look at the Eagles' initial 53-man roster |url=https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-53-man-roster-2024-season-jalen-hurts-saquon-barkley |access-date=2024-11-16 |website=PhiladelphiaEagles.com}} He was released on November 5.{{cite web | last=Alper | first=Josh | title=Eagles release Albert Okwuegbunam | website=NBC Sports | date=2024-11-05 | url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/eagles-release-albert-okwuegbunam | access-date=2024-11-16}}
=Indianapolis Colts=
On December 17, 2024, Okwuegbunam was signed to the Indianapolis Colts practice squad.{{Cite web |date=December 17, 2024 |title=Colts sign TE Albert Okwuegbunam Jr. to practice squad |url=https://www.colts.com/news/colts-sign-te-albert-okwuegbunam-to-practice-squad |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=Colts.com}} He signed a reserve/future contract with the Colts on January 6, 2025.{{Cite web |date=January 6, 2025 |title=Colts sign RB Tyler Goodson, LB Segun Olubi to 1-year contract extensions, sign 14 players to reserve/future contracts |url=https://www.colts.com/news/colts-sign-rb-tyler-goodson-lb-segun-olubi-to-1-year-contract-extensions-sign-14-players-to-reserve-future-contracts |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=Colts.com}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{footballstats|espn=4035115|nfl=albert-okwuegbunam|yahoo=32788}}
- [https://www.colts.com/team/players-roster/albert-okwuegbunam/ Indianapolis Colts bio]
- [https://mutigers.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7295 Missouri Tigers bio]
{{Broncos2020DraftPicks}}
{{Indianapolis Colts roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Okwuegbunam, Albert}}
Category:American players of American football of Nigerian descent
Category:Players of American football from Springfield, Illinois
Category:American football tight ends
Category:Missouri Tigers football players
Category:Denver Broncos players