Longhorns Wire is continuing the series of jersey numbers to match the days until the Texas kicks off the season. On Tuesday we find ourselves remembering number 80.
Alex Okafor, Defensive End
Alex Okafor joined the Texas Longhorns in 2009, the last time they would play for a national championship. The freshman pass rusher appeared in all 14 games that season as a reserve. He finished nine solo tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 18 total tackles. The Texas defense ranked 14th that year in scoring defense and allowed just 16.7 points per game. Okafor was named to the All-Big 12 Freshman team by the Sporting News.
Throughout his collegiate career, Okafor would appear in 52 games with 33 coming by way of starter. He tallied 150 total tackles with 34 TFL. He would finish with 22 career sacks. That number ties him with Brian Orakpo, Cory Redding, Shane Dronett and James Paxton for 12th most in Longhorns history.
The game that Okafor is most remembered for is the 2012 Valero Alamo Bowl. In that game heard defensive MVP honors for his 4.5 sacks and six TFLs as the Longhorns defeated Oregon State. The six TFLs are third most for a single game in school history. Okafor would go on to be selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2013 NFL Draft. He won a Super Bowl ring with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019-20.
Accomplishments:
- Number one ranked strongside defensive end per 247Sports Composite
- Two time first team All-Big 12
- CBS Sports 2012 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year
- Named to the 2013 Senior Bowl Roster
- Named to the Nagurski Trophy, Bednarik Award, Lombardi Award Watchlists
- 2013 NFL Draft fourth round selection
- Super Bowl Champion