Anfernee Orji
{{Short description|American football player (born 2000)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Anfernee Orji
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_team = Tennessee Titans
| number = 59
| position = Linebacker
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|10|6}}
| birth_place = Dallas, Texas, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lb = 230
| high_school = Rockwall {{avoid wrap|(Rockwall, Texas)}}
| college = Vanderbilt (2019–2022)
| undraftedyear = 2023
| pastteams =
- New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|2023|2024}})
- Tennessee Titans ({{NFL Year|2025}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
| statseason = 2024
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 30
| statlabel2 =Sacks
| statvalue2 =
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 =
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 =
| statlabel5 = Pass deflections
| statvalue5 =
| statlabel6 = Interceptions
| statvalue6 =
| statlabel7 =
| statvalue7 =
| pfr = OrjiAn00
}}
Anfernee Chikezie Orji (born October 6, 2000) is an American professional football linebacker for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Vanderbilt Commodores.
Early life
Orji grew up in Rockwall, Texas and attended Rockwall High School.{{cite web|url=https://www.texasfootball.com/article/2019/02/25/super-team-spotlight-rockwall-s-anfernee-orji?ref|title=Whataburger Super Team Spotlight: Rockwall's Anfernee Orji|work=Dave Campbell's Texas Football|date=February 25, 2019|access-date=April 27, 2023}} He was rated a three-star recruit and committed to play college football at Vanderbilt.{{cite web|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/high-school-sports/2018/07/07/rockwall-3-star-db-anfernee-orji-commits-to-join-his-brother-at-vanderbilt/|title=Rockwall 3-star DB Anfernee Orji commits to join his brother at Vanderbilt|work=Dallas Morning News|date=July 6, 2018|access-date=April 27, 2023}}
College career
Orji played in nine games and made six tackles during his freshman season at Vanderbilt.{{cite web|url=https://www.profootballnetwork.com/anfernee-orji-lb-vanderbilt-nfl-draft-scouting-report/|title=Anfernee Orji, LB, Vanderbilt: NFL Draft Scouting Report|first=Jason|last=Katz|website=ProFootballNetwork.com|date=April 9, 2023|access-date=April 27, 2023}} He recorded 66 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and two passes broken up during his sophomore season.{{cite web|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/vanderbilt/2021/05/03/vanderbilt-players-future-nfl-draft-2022/7401760002/|title=These Vanderbilt football players could get picked in future NFL Draft|work=The Tennessean|date=May 3, 2021|access-date=April 27, 2023}} Orji led the Commodores with 93 tackles with 13 tackles for loss as a junior.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3282092/2022/05/08/vanderbilt-football-clark-lea-preview/|title=Vanderbilt football seeks progress in Year 2 under Clark Lea after ‘humble beginnings’|first=Joe|last=Rexrode|website=The Athletic|date=May 8, 2022|access-date=April 27, 2023}} He led the team in tackles for a second straight year as a senior with 106.{{cite web|url=https://247sports.com/college/vanderbilt/Article/Former-Vanderbilt-LB-Anfernee-Orji-boosts-NFL-Draft-stock-with-impressive-offseason-208672437/|title=Former Vanderbilt LB Anfernee Orji boosts NFL Draft stock with impressive offseason|first=Robbie|last=Weinstein|website=247Sports.com|date=April 20, 2023|access-date=April 27, 2023}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 1
| weight = 230
| dash = 4.53
| ten split = 1.54
| twenty split = 2.57
| shuttle = 4.43
| cone drill = 7.00
| vertical = 38.5
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 2
| arm span = 32
| hand span = 10 1/4
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/anfernee-orji/32004f52-4a41-5291-4ac4-28d093af19ca |title=Anfernee Orji Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=May 3, 2023}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1031000&DraftYear=2023 |title=2023 NFL Draft Scout Anfernee Orji College Football Profile |access-date=May 3, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
=New Orleans Saints=
Orji signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent on April 30, 2023.{{Cite news|url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/new-orleans-saints-roster-undrafted-free-agents-2023-nfl-draft|title=New Orleans Saints agree to terms with 11 undrafted free agents|website=neworleanssaints.com|date=April 30, 2023}} He was waived on August 29, and re-signed to the practice squad.{{cite web|title=New Orleans Saints announce roster moves|url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/new-orleans-saints-roster-53-reductions-2023-nfl-season|website=NewOrleansSaints.com|date=August 29, 2023}}{{cite web|title=New Orleans Saints announce practice squad additions|url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/new-orleans-saints-roster-moves-practice-squad-2023-nfl-season|website=NewOrleansSaints.com|date=August 30, 2023}} Following the end of the regular season, the Saints signed Orji to a reserve/future contract on January 8, 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/new-orleans-saints-sign-11-to-reserve-future-contracts|title=New Orleans Saints sign 11 to reserve/future contracts|date=January 8, 2024|accessdate=January 9, 2024|work=NewOrleansSaints.com}}
On May 13, 2025, Orji was waived by the Saints.{{cite web |title=New Orleans Saints announce roster moves |url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/hunter-dekkers-quarterback-new-orleans-saints-roster-moves-update-may-13-2025 |website=neworleanssaints.com |access-date=15 May 2025}}
=Tennessee Titans=
On May 14, 2025, Orji was claimed off waivers by the Tennessee Titans.{{cite web |last1=Wyatt |first1=Jim |title=Titans Awarded LB Anfernee Orji, a Former Vanderbilt Star, Off Waivers From Saints |url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-awarded-lb-anfernee-orji-a-former-vanderbilt-star-off-waivers-from-saints |website=tennesseetitans.com |access-date=15 May 2025}}
Personal life
Orji has two brothers, Alex and Alston.{{Cite web |date=September 26, 2018 |title=Rivals.com - Alex Orji continuing family tradition of top prospects |url=https://n.rivals.com/news/alex-orji-continuing-family-tradition-of-top-prospects |access-date=January 12, 2024 |website=n.rivals.com}} Alex plays quarterback at UNLV. Alston played linebacker at Vanderbilt (2018–2021) and Campbell (2022).{{Cite web |title=Alston Orji Biography |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/player/bio/_/id/4362799/alston-orji |access-date=January 12, 2024 |website=ESPN |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.tennesseetitans.com/team/players-roster/anfernee-orji/ Tennessee Titans bio]
- [https://vucommodores.com/roster/anfernee-orji/ Vanderbilt Commodores bio]
{{Tennessee Titans roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Orji, Anfernee}}
Category:Players of American football from Texas
Category:American football linebackers
Category:Vanderbilt Commodores football players