There are always a few notable undrafted free agent signings
across the NFL, but none carries with it the level of intrigue than that of
former British discus thrower Lawrence Okoye, who inked a deal with the San
Francisco 49ers.
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Okoye burst onto the scene during the super regional combine
in Dallas. He’s a massive individual – standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 305
pounds – but he amazed with his speed and quickness at the combine. He posted a
10-foot-5 broad jump, a 35-inch vertical jump and a 4.78 40-yard dash.
This led 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh to tell reporters –
including Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee – that he felt “inadequate”
standing next to Okoye.
Asked what he thought of Okoye, Jim Harbaugh said, "Inadequate -- that was my first impression standing next to him." Harbaugh called Okoye "an Adonis, a great physical specimen of a man" and said, "Our creator created a beautiful man."
Okoye’s story becomes even more intriguing when you find out
that he’s never played American football in his life. He’ll begin his career as
a defensive end for the 49ers.
One reason San Francisco could have for taking a flier on
Okoye is that he didn’t start throwing discus until he was 18 years old. Two
years later he was in the Olympics.
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