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Jeff Okudah announces he’s officially an Ohio State graduate

Teddy Rydquist

By Teddy Rydquist

Published:

Starring at cornerback in the Big Ten for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 2017-19, Grand Prairie, Texas native Jeff Okudah racked up 83 tackles (one for loss), three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble, earning first-team All-Conference and unanimous All-American honors as a junior.

Electing to forgo his senior year of eligibility, Okudah was selected by the NFC North’s Detroit Lions with the third-overall pick in the 2020 National Football League Draft.

While he is now a professional, Okudah remembered his student-athlete responsibilities, announcing on Tuesday he has officially graduated from the Columbus-based institution.

After missing the season-opening loss to the Chicago Bears with a hamstring injury, Okudah made his NFL debut in Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Last playing in the Week 11 loss to the Carolina Panthers, he was placed on injured reserve on Monday with groin and shoulder ailments, ending his campaign.

All told, Okudah appeared in nine games as a rookie, including six starts, recording 47 tackles and one interception, which came off the hand of former Texas A&M Aggie and Oklahoma Sooner Kyler Murray in a Week 3 victory.

The Lions, who fired head coach Matt Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn on November 28, stand at 5-8 and will head to Nashville’s Nissan Stadium to battle the Tennessee Titans (9-4) on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on CBS.

Teddy Rydquist

A graduate of Bowling Green State University, Rydquist has been contributing to Saturday Down South and Saturday Tradition since 2019. He can be found on Twitter @TeddyRydquist.