Sam Okuayinonu
{{Short description|Liberian gridiron football player (born 1998)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Sam Okuayinonu
| image = Sam Okuayinonu.png
| caption = Okuayinonu in 2021
| alt =
| current_team = San Francisco 49ers
| number = 91
| position = Defensive end
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1998|5|1}}
| birth_place = Monrovia, Liberia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lb = 269
| high_school = Lowell {{avoid wrap|(Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S.)}}
| college = Maryland (2019–2021)
| undraftedyear = 2022
| pastteams =
- Tennessee Titans ({{NFL Year|2022}})
- San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|2023}})*
- San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|2024}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
- Third-team All-Big Ten (2021)
| statseason = 2023
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 11
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 0.5
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 =
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 =
| statlabel5 = Interceptions
| statvalue5 =
| pfr = OkuaSa00
}}
Sam Okuayinonu (born May 1, 1998) is a Liberian professional American football defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Maryland Terrapins,{{Cite web |last=Fangman |first=Tyler |date=January 3, 2022 |title=Maryland DL Sam Okuayinonu makes decision on 2022 season |url=https://saturdaytradition.com/maryland-football/maryland-dl-sam-okuayinonu-makes-decision-on-2022-season/ |access-date=February 20, 2024 |website=Saturday Tradition |language=en-US}} and signed as undrafted free agent with the Tennessee Titans in 2022.
Early years
Sam Okuayinonu was a three-star recruit from Lowell, Massachusetts. He played defensive line for Lowell High School graduating in 2016.
College career
On January 26, 2019, Okuayinonu committed to the Maryland Football. At Maryland, Okuayinonu had a total of 90 tackles, 12.0 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.{{Cite web |title=Sam Okuayinonu College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/sam-okuayinonu-1.html |access-date=October 17, 2024 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} After the 2021 Pinstripe Bowl, Okuayinonu declared for the draft.
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 1
| weight = 269
| dash = 4.77
| ten split = 1.62
| twenty split = 2.71
| shuttle = 4.58
| cone drill = 7.48
| vertical = 35.5
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 3
| bench = 31
| arm span = 33 1/4
| hand span = 9 1/4
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1003721&DraftYear=2022 |title=2022 NFL Draft Scout Sam Okuayinonu College Football Profile |access-date=April 3, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
=Tennessee Titans=
Okuayinonu was not selected in the 2022 NFL draft. On April 30, 2022, he signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent.{{Cite web |last=Oshtry |first=Sam |date=April 30, 2022 |title=Maryland football defensive lineman Sam Okuayinonu signs with Tennessee Titans |url=https://www.testudotimes.com/2022/4/30/23050472/maryland-football-defensive-lineman-sam-okuayinonu-signs-with-tennessee-titans |access-date=June 21, 2024 |website=Testudo Times |language=en}} He was waived on August 30, 2022, and signed to the practice squad the next day.{{cite web|title=Titans Trim Roster to 53 Players with 29 Roster Moves|url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-trim-roster-to-53-players-with-29-roster-moves|author=Wyatt, Jim|website=TennesseeTitans.com|date=August 30, 2022}}{{cite web|title=Titans Add Players to the Team's Practice Squad|url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-add-players-to-the-team-s-practice-squad|author=Wyatt, Jim|website=TennesseeTitans.com|date=August 31, 2022}} He was promoted to the active roster on October 4.{{cite web|title=Titans Make a Flurry of Roster Moves on Active Roster, Practice Squad|url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-make-a-flurry-of-roster-moves-on-active-roster-practice-squad|author=Wyatt, Jim|website=TennesseeTitans.com|date=October 4, 2022}} The Titans waived Okuayinonu on December 6, 2022, and re-signed with the practice squad.{{cite web|url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-make-several-roster-moves-on-53-man-roster-practice-squad|title=Titans Make Several Roster Moves on 53-Man Roster, Practice Squad|date=December 6, 2022|accessdate=December 6, 2022|first=Jim|last=Wyatt|work=TennesseeTitans.com}} He was promoted to the active roster on December 29, then waived the next day and re-signed back to the practice squad.{{cite web|title=Titans Place QB Ryan Tannehill, OLB Bud Dupree and LB Zach Cunningham on Injured Reserve While Promoting Three Others to the Active Roster|url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-place-qb-ryan-tannehill-olb-bud-dupree-and-lb-zach-cunningham-on-injured-|author=Wyatt, Jim|website=TennesseeTitans.com|date=December 29, 2022}}{{cite web|title=Titans Release OLB Sam Okuayinonu and DB John Reid From 53-Man Roster|url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-release-olb-sam-okuayinonu-and-db-john-reid-from-53-man-roster|author=Wyatt, Jim|website=TennesseeTitans.com|date=December 30, 2022}}
Okuayinonu signed a reserve/future contract on January 10, 2023.{{cite web|title=Titans Sign 12 Players to Reserve/Futures Contracts|url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-sign-11-players-to-reserve-futures-contracts-x1007|author=Wyatt, Jim|website=TennesseeTitans.com|date=January 10, 2023}} On August 29, 2023, he was waived for final roster cuts before the start of the 2023 season.{{cite web|title=Titans Trim Roster Ahead of NFL's Deadline|url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-trim-roster-ahead-of-nfl-s-deadline|author=Wyatt, Jim|website=TennesseeTitans.com|date=August 29, 2023}} Though Okuayinonu signed with the practice squad on August 30, the next day he was released again.{{cite web|url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-add-players-to-the-team-s-practice-squad-x0189|work=TennesseeTitans.com|title=Titans Add Players to the Team's Practice Squad|date=August 30, 2023|accessdate=August 31, 2023|first=Jim|last=Wyatt}}{{cite web|url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-make-a-flurry-of-roster-moves-on-thursday|title=Titans Make a Flurry of Roster Moves on Thursday|date=August 31, 2023|accessdate=August 31, 2023|first=Jim|last=Wyatt}}
=San Francisco 49ers=
On January 10, 2024, Okuayinonu was signed to the San Francisco 49ers practice squad.{{Cite web |date=January 10, 2024 |title=49ers Sign CB Mitchell and DL Okuayinonu to the Practice Squad |url=https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-sign-cb-mitchell-and-dl-okuayinonu-to-the-practice-squad |access-date=September 4, 2024 |website=49ers.com}} He signed a reserve/future contract on February 13, 2024.{{cite web|title=San Francisco 49ers Sign Nine Free Agents|url=https://www.49ers.com/news/san-francisco-49ers-sign-nine-free-agents-gutierrez-robinson-hawkins|website=49ers.com|date=February 13, 2024|access-date=February 13, 2024}}
Okuayinonu was waived by the 49ers on August 28, 2024, and re-signed to the practice squad.{{Cite web |date=August 28, 2024 |title=49ers Sign Three Players, Place Two Players on Injured Reserve and Other Moves |url=https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-sign-three-players-place-two-players-on-injured-reserve-and-other-moves |access-date=September 4, 2024 |website=49ers.com}}{{Cite web|title=49ers Place Ricky Pearsall on Reserve/Non-Football Injury List and More Roster Moves|url=https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-place-ricky-pearsall-on-reserve-non-football-injury-list-brandon-parker-sam-okuayinonu|website=49ers.com|date=September 2, 2024|access-date=September 2, 2024}} He was promoted to the active roster on September 28.{{Cite web |date=September 28, 2024 |title=49ers Make Multiple Roster Moves Ahead of #NEvsSF |url=https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-make-multiple-roster-moves-ahead-of-nevssf |access-date=October 15, 2024 |website=49ers.com}}
On March 26, 2025, Okuayinonu re-signed with the 49ers.{{cite web |last1=Bonilla |first1=David |title=DE Sam Okuayinonu signs one-year exclusive rights contract with 49ers |url=https://www.49erswebzone.com/articles/189720-okuayinonu-one-year-exclusive-rights-contract/ |website=49ers Webzone |access-date=27 March 2025}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons}}
- [https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/sam-okuayinonu/ San Francisco 49ers bio]
- [https://umterps.com/sports/football/roster/sam-okuayinonu/9485 Maryland Terrapins bio]
{{San Francisco 49ers roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Okuayinonu, Sam}}
Category:American football defensive ends
Category:American football linebackers
Category:American football outside linebackers
Category:Maryland Terrapins football players
Category:Tennessee Titans players