Levi Onwuzurike

Levi Onwuzurike (born March 2, 1998) is an American football defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Washington, and was selected by the Lions in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Levi Onwuzurike
No. 91 – Detroit Lions
Position:Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1998-03-02) March 2, 1998
Allen, Texas, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:290 lb (132 kg)
Career information
High school:Allen
College:Washington (2016–2020)
NFL Draft:2021 / Round: 2 / Pick: 41
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2022
Total tackles:35
Sacks:1.0
Pass deflections:2
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early life and high school

Onwuzurike grew up in Allen, Texas, and attended Allen High School. As a senior, he was named the District 6-6A Defensive MVP and The Dallas Morning News All-Area Defensive Player of the Year after finishing the year with 53 tackles and 8.5 sacks.[1] Onwuzurike committed to play college football at Washington over offers from Baylor, Arizona State and Michigan.[2]

College career

Onwuzurike redshirted his true freshman season.[3] As a redshirt freshman, he recorded 16 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.[4] Onwuzurike played in all 14 of the Huskies games with four starts in his redshirt sophomore season and finished the year with 34 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.[5][6] He was named first-team All-Pac-12 as a redshirt junior after recording 45 tackles, six tackles for loss, and two sacks with a blocked kick on special teams.[7][8] In September 2020, Onwuzurike announced he was opting out of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and would prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft.[9]

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard splitVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 2+7⁄8 in
(1.90 m)		 290 lb
(132 kg)		 33 in
(0.84 m)		 10+1⁄8 in
(0.26 m)		4.86 s1.70 s2.90 s30.0 in
(0.76 m)		9 ft 1 in
(2.77 m)		29 reps
All values from Pro Day[10][11][12]

Onwuzurike was drafted 41st overall by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft.[13] He signed his four-year rookie contract on June 17, 2021, worth $8.14 million.[14]

On September 10, 2022, Onwuzurike was placed on injured reserve with a back injury.[15] During the Lions' bye week in week 6, Onwuzurike underwent season-ending back surgery.[16]

Personal life

Onwuzurike's parents immigrated from Nigeria.[17]

References
  1. "Allen defensive end Levi Onwuzurike orally commits to Washington". The Dallas Morning News. January 20, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  2. "Washington Huskies get commitment from Texas defensive end Levi Onwuzurike". The Seattle Times. January 20, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  3. "Huskies' efforts to recruit Levi Onwuzurike out of Texas are starting to pay off". The Spokesman-Review. October 2, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  4. "UW's Levi Onwuzurike learns from Greg Gaines". The News Tribune. October 28, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  5. "DL Levi Onwuzurike an academic leader for UW". The News Tribune. September 26, 2019. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  6. "What a pair of blocked kicks say about athletic UW defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike". The Seattle Times. October 30, 2019. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  7. "Washington's Onwuzurike opts out, declares for NFL draft". The Washington Post. Associated Press. September 17, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  8. "UW Huskies DL Levi Onwuzurike, DB Elijah Molden will return for senior seasons". The Seattle Times. December 26, 2019. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  9. Bonagura, Kyle (September 17, 2020). "Washington Huskies' Levi Onwuzurike declares for NFL draft". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  10. "Levi Onwuzurike Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  11. "2021 NFL Draft Scout Levi Onwuzurike College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  12. "Levi Onwuzurike 2021 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  13. Birkett, Dave (April 30, 2021). "Detroit Lions pick Levi Onwuzurike, DT from Washington, in Round 2 of 2021 NFL draft". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  14. "Lions Sign Levi Onwuzurike".
  15. "Detroit Lions place DL Levi Onwuzurike on injured reserve". Pride of Detroit. SB Nation. September 10, 2022.
  16. "Lions DT Levi Onwuzurike undergoes back surgery, out for season: 'It's a last resort'". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  17. Rogers, Justin (April 30, 2021). "Lions close out Day 2 of draft with Syracuse CB Ifeatu Melifonwu". The Detroit News. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
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