NFL AFRICA ROOKIE CLASS OF 2022
The NFL Draft 2022 took place in Las Vegas from 28th April to 30th April, 2022. This was a successful draft for players with links to Africa, as 15 of them were drafted.
The players that were drafted are as follows;
- IKEM EKWONU: He was born to Nigerian parents in Charlotte, North Carolina in the United States of America (US), and was selected by the Carolina Panthers with the sixth overall pick. He was the first offensive tackle taken in the 2022 NFL draft.
- ARNOLD EBIKETIE: Arnold who was born in Yaounde, Cameroon, played the linebacker position for the Penn State University team and was selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft, with the 38th pick.
- BOYE MAFE: Boye was born to Nigerian parents in Minnetonka, Minnesota in the US and he played the defensive end position for the University of Minnesota. He was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft, with the 40th pick.
- DAVID OJABO: David was born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, but was raised in Aberdeen, Scotland. He played the Outsider Linebacker position for the University of Michigan and was selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft, with the 45th pick.
- BRIAN ASAMOAH: Brian was born in Columbus, Ohio to Ghanaian parents. He played the linebacker position for the University of Oklahoma, and his selection was special, because he was selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the 66th pick of the third round and the phone call was made by the General Manager, who happens to be a Ghanaian named Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
- JOSHUA EZEUDU: Joshua was born in Lawrenceville, Georgia to Nigerian parents. He played the offensive guard position for North Carolina, and was selected by the New York Giants with the 67th pick of the third round of the 2022 NFL draft.
- ENYIOMA UWAZURIKE: Enyioma was born to Roland and Cinderella Uwazurike in Detroit, Michigan. He played the Defensive End position for Iowa State University, and was selected by the Denver Broncos, with the 116th Pick in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL draft.
- ERIK EZUKANMA: Erik played the Wide Receiver position for Texas Tech University, and he was selected by the Miami Dolphins, with the 125th pick in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL draft.
- CHIGOZIEM OKONKWO: Chigoziem was born to a Nigerian family in Powder Springs, Georgia. He played the Tight End position for Maryland University, and was selected by the Tennessee Titans, with the 143rd pick in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL draft.
- OTITO OGBONNIA: Otito was born to DR. SKC Ogbonnia and Mrs Nneka Ogbonnia in Houston, Texas. He played the Nose Tackle position for the University of California, Los Angeles, and was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers, with the 160th pick in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL draft.
- ESEZI OTOMEWO: Esezi was a Defensive Lineman for the University of Minnesota, and was selected by the Minnesota Vikings, with the 165th pick in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL draft.
- KINGSLEY ENAGBARE: Kingsley played the Outside Linebacker position for South Carolina University, and was selected by the Green Bay Packers, with the 179th pick in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL draft.
- CHRIS OLADOKUN: Chris played the Quarterback position for South Dakota State University, and was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers, with the 241st pick in the 7th round of the 2022 NFL draft.
- JESSE LUKETA: Jesse’s parents hail from the Democratic Republic of Congo but was born in Ottawa, Canada. He played the Outside Linebacker position for Penn State University, and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals, with the 256th pick in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL draft.
- SAMORI TOURE: Samori played the Wide Receiver position for Nebraska University, and was selected by the Green Bay Packers, with the 258th pick in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL draft.
- ADEDAYO ODELEYE: Adedayo was born in Nigeria, and started playing American Football in 2017 in Loughborough University. He was allocated to the Houston Texans team in the NFL.
- AYO OYELOLA: Ayo graduated from the University of Nottingham, and was allocated to the Jacksonville Jaguar team in the NFL.
- THOMAS ODUKOYA:
- CHIGBO ROY MBAETEKA: Chigbo was born in Anambra State in Nigeria. He participated in the Uprise academy programme and was selected as one of 70 players to participate in the NFL International Player Pathway Combine in London and from there, he was eventually able to land a spot with the New York Football Giants.
- HAGGAI NDUBUISI: Haggai was signed by the Arizona Cardinals, through this Uprise/International pathway program, to play the Offensive Tackle position.
- KEHINDE OGINNI: Kehinde was signed by the Kansas City Chief, through the Uprise/International pathway program, to play the Tight End position.