Okoye becomes the final part of the 2007 draft class to sign.
HOUSTON- The Houston Texans announced today that they have signed first-round draft pick DT Amobi Okoye, the final Texans draft choice to sign. Okoye's signing means all Texans rookies reported to camp in time for the first practice. This is the second consecutive year GM Rick Smith has executed deals allowing all of the Texans draft picks to enter camp without missing a practice.
Okoye (6-2 287), was the 10th selection in the 2007 NFL Draft from Louisville. He is the second number 10 pick the Texans have taken, joining CB Dunta Robinson, who was selected in 2004. Okoye joins DE Mario Williams (2006), DT Travis Johnson (2005) and DE Jason Babin (2004) as the fourth consecutive season the Texans used a first round pick on defensive lineman.
Okoye, at 19 years, 322 days old, was the youngest player drafted in the modern NFL draft. He will begin the 2007 as the youngest player in Texans history to start a season at 20 years, 91 days, surpassing Williams, 21 years, 223 days old, from last season.
As a senior at Louisville, Okoye was a unanimous first-team All-Big East Conference choice, starting all year at strong-side defensive tackle. He finished the season with 55 tackles (38 solos) and ranked second on the team with eight sacks.
Okoye finished his colligate career playing in 48 games, starting 24 times, and finished with 121 tackles (68 solos), 10.5 sacks for minus-42 yards and 23 stops for losses totaling 81 yards.
Okoye was born in Anambra, Nigeria and moved to the United States as a youth. He tested into the ninth grade at 12-year-old. He became the youngest player in college football at age 16 when he enrolled at Louisville in 2003.
Following are the 2007 draft picks the Texans have signed (7):
CB Fred Bennett (6-1, 199) 4th round, 123rd overall
LB Zac Diles (6-2, 230) 7th round, 218th overall
T Brandon Frye (6-4, 302) 5th round, 163rd overall
S Brandon Harrison (6-2, 215) 5th round, 144th overall
WR Jacoby Jones (6-2, 210) 3rd round, 73rd overall
DT Amobi Okoye (6-2, 287) 1st round, 10th overall
G Kasey Studdard (6-3, 310) 6th round, 183rd overall
