Tag: Kenneth Odumegwu

Seahawks sign 2 players to practice squad

Seahawks sign 2 players to practice squad

The constant shuffle on the Seattle Seahawks’ practice squad continues. On Wednesday, it was announced the Seahawks signed a pair of defensive tackles to their practice unit. Kenneth Odumegwu and Quinton Bohanna are now in the Seattle organization. Odumegwu and Bohanna replace defensive tackle Kyon Barrs and offensive lineman Max Pircher, who were released on Tuesday.

Quinton Bohanna was originally a sixth round selection by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2021 NFL draft where he played his first two seasons. He joined the Detroit Lions in 2023 and saw some action, but was eventually signed by the Tennessee Titans in late 2023. The Seahawks got to see Bohanna up close and personal during their joint practices, which is further proof the preseason isn’t just an audition for your team… it’s also for every other team in the league. Bohanna has 39 total tackles in his career so far.

As for Kenneth Odumegwu, he is a fun story. Originally a native from Lagos, Nigeria, Odumegwu earned his way into the NFL by performing well at the international combine and was chosen to be apart of the league’s International Player Pathway Program. His first NFL action came last year as a member of the Green Bay Packers’ practice squad. Now, he moves to the Emerald City to become a Seahawk.

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10 players work out for Broncos, including Nigerian DL Kenneth Odumegwu

The Broncos brought in 10 players for workouts on Monday, including Nigerian defensive lineman Kenneth Odumegwu.

The Denver Broncos brought in 10 players for workouts on Monday, according to the NFL’s transaction wire (via KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis).

One of the most interesting players on the list is Kenneth Odumegwu, a Nigerian defensive lineman who entered the league as a member of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program with the Green Bay Packers in 2023. He grew up playing soccer and later switched to basketball before being recruited to Osi Umenyiora’s football camp. The 23-year-old lineman is yet to appear in a regular season game in the NFL.

Former CFL draft pick Luiji Vilain is also on the list. The 26-year-old linebacker turned down a chance to play in Canada and opted to instead join the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2022. He has dressed for five games (four with the Vikings and one with the Carolina Panthers), totaling four tackles.

View the full list of players below.

10 players worked out for Broncos

  1. DT Kenneth Odumegwu (No College)
  2. LB Chris Garrett (Concordia, St. Paul)
  3. LB Tyreek Maddox-Williams (Rutgers)
  4. LB Donavan Mutin (Houston)
  5. LB Luiji Vilain (Wake Forset)
  6. DB Christian Holmes (Oklahoma State)
  7. DB Zech McPhearson (Texas Tech)
  8. DB Chris Wilcox (Bringham Young)
  9. DB Damarion Williams (Houston)
  10. DB A.J. Woods (Pittsburgh)

Denver’s 53-man roster and 17-player practice squad are both full, so if the Broncos add any free agents, the team will have to cut somebody to make room for any potential new arrivals.

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Packers give game ball to first-year international player Kenneth Odumegwu

Kenneth Odumegwu, who arrived in Green Bay through the International Player Pathway Program, received the game ball after the Packers’ preseason opener in Cincinnati.

The Green Bay Packers presented first-year international player Kenneth Odumegwu with the game ball following his first-ever football game on Friday in Cincinnati.

Odumegwu, a Nigerian, is with the Packers as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program (IPPP) and will have a spot on the team’s practice squad throughout the 2023 season if he doesn’t make the 53-man roster.

Coach LaFleur presented Odumegwu, who played 12 defensive snaps and two more on special teams, with the game ball following the Packers’ 36-19 win over the Bengals at Paycor Stadium.

“It was pretty cool,” LaFleur said Sunday. “Typically, we don’t give out game balls post-game, but he did get a game ball. I thought that was worthy of it. First ever game. The guys have really rallied around him and supported him.”

LaFleur says Odumegwu has “top shelf” character and is quickly picking up the NFL game.

“He’s definitely learned a lot and there’s a lot more to learn, but he’s been a great addition to our team.”

Odumegwu is the Packers’ first international player placed through the program. He was discovered through NFL Africa Touchdown Camp in Ghana and made the IPPP after performing at the NFL International Combine in London in 2022. Before arriving in Green Bay in May, Odumegwu spent 10 weeks training at IMG Academy in Florida.

Packers given DL Kenneth Odumegwu from NFL International Pathway Program

Nigerian DL Kenneth Odumegwu will be with the Packers during training camp and possibly the regular seaosn thanks to the NFL’s IPP.

The Green Bay Packers were allocated Nigerian defensive lineman Kenneth Odumegwu from the NFL’s International Pathway Program, the team and NFL announced on Thursday.

Odumegwu is a 22-year-old of Nigerian decent who was initially discovered through Osi Umenyiora’s “The Uprise Intiative” in Ghana. From there, Odumegwu and 12 others participated at the Internaitonal Combine in London last year, were trained in Florida during a 10-week program and then had a pro day in front of teams at South Florida.

Odumegwu is one of eight allocated players from the program following the 2023 draft. All four teams from the NFC North and AFC West received a player, and now all 32 teams have been allocated at least one player from the International Pathway Program, which began in 2017.

Udumegwu will be with the Packers throughout training and will be eligible for an international player practice squad exemption for the regular season.

Of the 37 players signed throughout the program, four have made active rosters.

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