Tristan Okpalaugo
{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1989)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Tristan Okpalaugo
| image =
| current_team = Free agent
| number =
| position = Outside linebacker
| college = Fresno State
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1989|10|10}}
| birth_place = Livermore, California, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| undraftedyear = 2013
| pastteams =
- Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|2013}})*
- Minnesota Vikings ({{NFL Year|2013}})*
- Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|2014}})*
- Toronto Argonauts ({{CFL Year|2014}})
- Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2016}})*
- Winnipeg Blue Bombers ({{CFL Year|2017}}–{{CFL Year|2018}})
| status =
| cflstatus =
| highlights =
- Frank M. Gibson Trophy ({{CFL Year|2014}})
| cflstatlabel1 = Tackles
| cflstatvalue1 = 58
| cflstatlabel2 = Sacks
| cflstatvalue2 = 20
| cflstatlabel3 = Interceptions
| cflstatvalue3 = 2
| cflstatlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| cflstatvalue4 = 1
| cfl = tristan-okpalaugo/159790/
}}
Tristan Okpalaugo (born October 10, 1989) is an American professional football outside linebacker who is currently a free agent. He signed with the Miami Dolphins as undrafted free agent in 2013. He played college football for the Fresno State Bulldogs.
Early years
He attended Granada High School in Livermore, California. He was selected to the First team East Bay Athletics All-League in 2007 in which he played defensive end, wide receiver and tight end in high school.{{cite web| title=Fresno State Profile| work=gobulldogs.com| url=http://www.gobulldogs.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/okpalaugo_tristan00.html| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://archive.today/20130616143940/http://www.gobulldogs.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/okpalaugo_tristan00.html| archive-date=2013-06-16}} He was named an honorable mention for the All-Metro football team in his senior year in high school. He was named as Granada High School Most Improved Player in 2007. He also played other sports including basketball and competed in track and field was selected to the first-team East Bay Athletics All-League basketball team twice during high school.
Professional career
=Miami Dolphins =
On April 27, 2013, he signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent following the 2013 NFL draft.{{cite web | title=Dolphins undrafted free agent list right here | work=miamiherald.typepad.com | url=http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/2013/05/dolphins-undrafted-free-agent-list-right-here.html}} He failed to make the 53 man roster.
=Minnesota Vikings =
On September 2, 2013, he was signed as a defensive end for the Minnesota Vikings practice squad and then released on September 10, 2013.
=Toronto Argonauts=
Okpalaugo was signed by the Toronto Argonauts (CFL) on June 22, 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.argonauts.ca/roster/show/id/7395 |title=Tristan Okpalaugo |publisher=argonauts.ca |access-date=November 29, 2014 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141125152429/http://www.argonauts.ca/roster/show/id/7395 |archive-date=November 25, 2014 }} He was the East Division nominee for the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award in 2014, winning the Frank M. Gibson Trophy.{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/article/2014-awards-finalists |title=Shortening the list: Elimimian, Ray headline awards finalists |publisher=cfl.ca |date=November 13, 2014 |access-date=November 29, 2014 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129185339/http://www.cfl.ca/article/2014-awards-finalists |archive-date=November 29, 2014 }}
=Arizona Cardinals=
Okpalaugo was signed by the Arizona Cardinals on February 19, 2016. On September 3, 2016, he was waived/injured by the Cardinals and placed on injured reserve.{{cite web|title=Final Cuts Take Cardinals to 53|url=http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and-events/article-2/Final-Cuts-Take-Cardinals-to-53/fe31c599-c57f-4919-a868-f054b34ac7e9|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818220942/http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and-events/article-2/Final-Cuts-Take-Cardinals-to-53/fe31c599-c57f-4919-a868-f054b34ac7e9|url-status=dead|archive-date=2017-08-18|last=Urban|first=Darren|website=AZCardinals.com}} On September 12, he was released from the Cardinals' injured reserve.
=Winnipeg Blue Bombers=
On February 8, 2017, Okpalaugo signed a two-year contract with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL).{{Cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2017/02/08/okpalaugo-returns-signs-bombers/|title=Report: Okpalaugo returns; signs with Bombers|date=2017-02-08|website=CFL.ca|access-date=2017-02-09}}
Personal
Okpalaugo is also the son of Chris and Mary Ann Okpalaugo of Livermore, California.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://archive.today/20130616143940/http://www.gobulldogs.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/okpalaugo_tristan00.html Fresno State bio]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20151207112435/http://www.argonauts.ca/roster/show/id/7395 Toronto Argonauts bio]
- [http://www.miamidolphins.com/team/roster/Tristan-Okpalaugo/1bd8a70b-0150-4e33-a821-9d39da5eaebb Miami Dolphins bio]
- [http://www.vikings.com/team/roster/tristan-okpalaugo/c1360f3e-0ec4-479f-8316-179755ce259f/ Minnesota Vikings bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Okpalaugo, Tristan}}
Category:Miami Dolphins players
Category:American football defensive ends
Category:Canadian football defensive linemen
Category:Players of Canadian football from California
Category:Fresno State Bulldogs football players
Category:Minnesota Vikings players
Category:Dallas Cowboys players
Category:Toronto Argonauts players
Category:Winnipeg Blue Bombers players
Category:Players of American football from Alameda County, California
Category:Sportspeople from Livermore, California
Category:Canadian Football League Rookie of the Year Award winners