Odafe Oweh
{{Short description|American football player (born 1998)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Odafe Oweh
| image = Odafe Oweh JUL2024 (53880849204).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Oweh with the Baltimore Ravens in 2024
| number = 99
| current_team = Baltimore Ravens
| position = Linebacker
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|12|15}}
| birth_place = Hackensack, New Jersey, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lb = 255
| high_school = Blair Academy {{nowrap|(Blairstown, New Jersey)}}
| college = Penn State (2018–2020)
| draftyear = 2021
| draftround = 1
| draftpick = 31
| pastteams =
- Baltimore Ravens ({{NFL Year|2021}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
- PFWA All-Rookie Team (2021)
- First-team All-Big Ten (2020)
| statweek = 18
| statseason = 2024
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 138
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 23
| statlabel3 = Pass deflections
| statvalue3 = 1
| statlabel4 = Interceptions
| statvalue4 =
| statlabel5 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue5 = 7
| statlabel6 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue6 = 3
| statlabel7 = Defensive touchdowns
| statvalue7 =
| pfr = OwehJa00
}}
Odafe Jayson Oweh ({{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|d|ɑː|f|eɪ|_|ˈ|oʊ|w|eɪ}}; born December 15, 1998), is an American professional football linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions and was selected by the Ravens in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft.
Early life
Of Nigerian descent, Oweh was born in Hackensack, New Jersey, on December 15, 1998, and attended Blair Academy in Blairstown, New Jersey.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/ravens/ravens-odafe-oweh-explains-why-he-will-use-nigerian-first-name-nfl|title=Odafe Oweh explains why he will go by first name in NFL|website=RSN}} While at Blair Academy, he became best friends with current teammate David Ojabo.https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/odafe-oweh-david-ojabo-brotherhood-ravens-cover-story He was selected to play in the 2018 Under Armour All-America Game.{{cite web|last=Werner |first=Barry |url=https://usatodayhss.com/2017/jayson-oweh-honored-to-reach-under-armour-all-american-dream |title=Jayson Oweh honored to reach Under Armour All-American 'dream' |publisher=Usatodayhss.com |date= 13 September 2017|accessdate=2020-09-30}} Oweh committed to Penn State to play college football.{{Cite web|last=Wogenrich|first=Mark|title=Penn State adds 4-star Blair Academy DE to 2018 recruiting class|url=https://www.mcall.com/sports/penn-state/mc-spt-penn-state-football-jayson-oweh-20180105-story.html|access-date=2020-09-30|website=mcall.com|date=6 January 2018 }}
College career
As a true freshman at Penn State in 2018, Oweh played in four games and had two sacks.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2019-07-19|title=Jayson Oweh A Rising Star For Penn State Football, 'Going To Be Unstoppable'|url=http://onwardstate.com/2019/07/19/jayson-oweh-a-rising-star-for-penn-state-football-going-to-be-unstoppable/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-09-30|website=Onward State|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=King|first=Tyler|date=4 September 2019|title='Raw' Jayson Oweh continuing to make progress on Penn State's defensive line|url=https://www.inquirer.com/college-sports/penn-state/penn-state-defense-jayson-oweh-micah-parsons-20190905.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-09-30|website=inquirer.com|language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Bodani |first=Frank |date=2019-06-03 |title=Penn State football: Meet young DE who Micah Parsons calls 'freakish' |url=https://www.ydr.com/story/sports/college/penn-state/football/2019/06/03/penn-state-football-de-jayson-oweh-most-freakish-player-ive-ever-seen/1265797001/ |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=York Daily Record}}{{Cite web |last=Pegler |first=Will |date=2019-10-31 |title=Jayson Oweh Is Just Getting Started For Penn State Football |url=https://onwardstate.com/2019/10/31/jayson-oweh-is-just-getting-started-for-penn-state-football/ |access-date=2020-09-30 |website=Onward State |language=en-US}} As a sophomore in 2019, he played in 13 games with one start and had 21 tackles and five sacks.{{Cite web|date=2020-07-11|title=Jayson Oweh Included In Pro Football Network's 'Most To Gain In 2020 Season' List|url=https://onwardstate.com/2020/07/11/jayson-oweh-included-in-pro-football-networks-most-to-gain-in-2020-season-list/|access-date=2020-09-30|website=Onward State|language=en-US}} He recorded 38 tackles, including six tackles for a loss, in the 2020 season.
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 4 7/8
| weight = 257
| dash = 4.37
| ten split = 1.59
| twenty split = 2.59
| shuttle = 4.20
| cone drill = 6.90
| vertical = 39.5
| broad ft = 11
| broad in = 2
| bench = 21
| arm span = 34 1/2
| hand span = 9 1/4
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/jayson-oweh/32004f57-4501-2098-d88c-b6118c47c2f5 |title=Odafe Oweh Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=September 20, 2021}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1022873&DraftYear=2021 |title=Jayson Oweh, Penn State, DE, 2021 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |website=draftscout.com |access-date=September 20, 2021}}
}}
=2021 season=
Oweh was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round (31st overall) of the 2021 NFL draft, which they previously obtained in a trade that sent Orlando Brown Jr. to the Kansas City Chiefs. Soon after the draft, Oweh announced that he would be going by his first name Odafe instead of his middle name Jayson, which he went by in college to avoid confusion regarding the pronunciation of his first name.{{Cite web |last=Gordon |first=Grant |date=April 29, 2020|title=Ravens pick WR Rashod Bateman at No. 27, take pass rusher Jayson Oweh at No. 31 |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/ravens-pick-minnesota-wide-receiver-rashod-bateman-at-no-27 |access-date=April 29, 2020 |website=NFL}} He signed his four-year rookie contract, worth $12.6 million, on June 10, 2021.{{cite web |last1=Shaffer |first1=Jonas |title=First-round pick Odafe Oweh signs rookie deal with Ravens, leaving just two selections unsigned |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/bs-sp-ravens-odafe-oweh-20210611-jpndscgiljd4xnxzk4ejsqc7mq-story.html |website=Baltimore Sun |date=11 June 2021 |access-date=16 August 2021}}
Oweh got his first career forced fumble and recovery late in the fourth quarter against Clyde Edwards-Helaire and the Chiefs, his second career game. The turnover helped seal a 36–35 victory.{{cite web |title=Chiefs vs. Ravens - Game Summary - September 19, 2021 - ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/game/_/gameId/401326361 |website=ESPN.com |access-date=21 September 2021 |language=en}} He was named the defensive player of the week for his performance, which included three tackles, a tackle for loss, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. He also had a quarterback hit on Patrick Mahomes that led to an interception by his teammate Tavon Young.{{cite news |title=Titans RB Derrick Henry, Cardinals QB Kyler Murray among NFL Players of the Week |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/players-of-the-week-2021-week-2-derrick-henry-kyler-murray |access-date=23 September 2021 |work=NFL.com}} He would not play the final two weeks of the season due to injury, becoming just one of the many Ravens players that would be injured that season.{{cite news |last1=Oestreicher |first1=Kevin |title=Ravens HC John Harbaugh gives update on OLB Odafe Oweh |url=https://ravenswire.usatoday.com/2022/04/01/ravens-hc-john-harbaugh-gives-update-on-olb-odafe-oweh/ |access-date=12 October 2022 |work=Ravens Wire |date=1 April 2022}} Oweh finished his rookie season with 33 total tackles, 5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, and a pass breakup.{{cite web |title=Odafe Oweh 2021 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OwehJa00/gamelog/2021/ |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |access-date=12 October 2022 |language=en}} He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.{{Cite web |title=2021 NFL All-Rookie Team |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/nfl-all-rookie-2021.htm |access-date=2024-07-27 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
=2022 season=
In Week 4 against the Buffalo Bills, he forced a fumble that was recovered by fellow teammate Marcus Williams and also had a sack on Josh Allen. However, the Ravens would lose 20–23.{{cite web |title=Buffalo Bills at Baltimore Ravens - October 2nd, 2022 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202210020rav.htm |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |access-date=12 October 2022 |language=en}} He finished the season with 43 tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble and a recovery in 17 games and six starts.{{Cite web |title=Odafe Oweh 2022 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OwehJa00/gamelog/2022/ |access-date=2024-06-29 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
=2023 season=
In 13 games and five starts in 2023, Oweh finished fourth on the team with five sacks, along with 23 tackles and two forced fumbles.{{Cite web |title=Odafe Oweh 2023 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OwehJa00/gamelog/2023/ |access-date=2024-06-29 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=2023 Baltimore Ravens Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/rav/2023.htm |access-date=2024-06-29 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
=2024 season=
On April 30, 2024, the Ravens picked up the fifth-year option on Oweh's contract.{{Cite web |last=Mink |first=Ryan |date=April 30, 2024 |title=Ravens Exercise Fifth-Year Option on Odafe Oweh |url=https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/odafe-oweh-fifth-year-option-baltimore-ravens-news-exercised |access-date=2024-06-29 |website=BaltimoreRavens.com}}
NFL career statistics
| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2"| Legend |
| Bold
| Career high |
=Regular season=
| class= "wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | ||||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="4"| Tackling ! colspan="4"| Fumbles ! colspan="6"| Interceptions | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | FF | FR | Yds | TD | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | PD | |
| 2021 | BAL
| 15 || 2 || 33 || 23 || 10 || 5.0 || 3 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 1 | |||||||||||||||
| 2022 | BAL
| 17 || 6 || 43 || 30 || 13 || 3.0 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2023 | BAL
| 13 || 5 || 23 || 20 || 3 || 5.0 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2024 | BAL
| 16 || 10 || 34 || 20 || 13 || 10.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OwehJa00.htm Career] | 61 | 23 | 133 | 94 | 39 | 23 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
=Postseason=
| class= "wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="5"| Tackles ! colspan="4"| Fumbles | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | FF | FR | Yds | TD | |
| 2022 | BAL
| 1 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 2 || 1.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||||
| 2023 | BAL
| 2 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 2 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||||
| 2024 | BAL
| 2 || 0 || 3 || 3 || 0 || 1.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||||
| colspan="2" |[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OwehJa00.htm Career] | 5 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 2.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Personal life
Oweh's younger brother, Otega Oweh, plays as a guard for the University of Kentucky men's basketball team.https://www.si.com/nfl/ravens/news/baltimore-ravens-odafe-oweh-brother-otega-oweh-helps-kentucky-knock-duke
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://gopsusports.com/sports/football/roster/jayson-oweh/10571 Penn State Nittany Lions bio]
- [https://www.baltimoreravens.com/team/players-roster/odafe-oweh/ Baltimore Ravens bio]
{{Baltimore Ravens roster navbox}}
{{2021 NFL Draft}}
{{RavensFirstPick}}
{{Ravens2021DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oweh, Odafe}}
Category:Players of American football from Hackensack, New Jersey
Category:American football defensive ends
Category:Penn State Nittany Lions football players
Category:Baltimore Ravens players
Category:American players of American football of Nigerian descent