The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Okafor drafted 103rd overall by the Arizona Cardinals
04.27.2013 | Football
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April 27, 2013
Austin - Texas DE Alex Okafor was selected 103rd overall by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2013 NFL Draft and is the 12th Longhorn defensive lineman selected in the last eight years under Mack Brown.
"It's just a blessing," Okafor said after learning he was selected. "No matter what team you go to, when you get that call on draft day you're already in love with the team. Really that is all you can ask for.
"It's just a childhood dream. Every kid wishes he could do this. Everybody wants to be a professional athlete. I'm one of the lucky few that has the opportunity to do that. So I've just got to capitalize on that. I know a lot of people are living through me right now. I can't let them down. Can't be done. I've got to be successful. "
"Alex was so unselfish. He played anywhere we asked him to," said Texas head coach Mack Brown. "When we were short on the defensive line two years ago, at 260 pounds he played all year and never griped one bit. He became a great team leader." 


A Texas defensive linemen has now been selected in every draft for eight straight years including Kheeston Randall (Miami Dolphins, 2012) Sam Acho (Arizona Cardinals, 2011), Sergio Kindle (Baltimore Ravens, 2010), Lamarr Houston (Oakland Raiders, 2010), Brian Orakpo (Washington Redskins, 2009), Roy Miller (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2009), Henry Melton (Chicago Bears), Frank Okam (Houston Texans, 2008), Tim Crowder ( Denver Broncos, 2007), Brian Robison (Minnesota Vikings, 2007) and Rodrique Wright (Miami Dolphins, 2006).
Okafor is the first Longhorn selected by the Arizona Cardinals since DE Sam Acho was selected in the exact same position (103) in 2011. Prior to that, OG Leonard Davis was selected second overall in 2001. DE Lance Wilson was selected in the 12th round in 1992 when they were known as the Phoenix Cardinals. Okafor will join Acho as well as former Longhorn C Lyle Sendlein on the Cardinals roster.
"I talked to Sam about an hour ago. He congratulated me," Okafor said. "He told me he has an extra room at his crib in case I have to crash for a couple of days. He's excited. I'm excited. It's a great situation.
"I know when I came here he was sort of a mentor for me. So the biggest transition from college to [the NFL] is finding guys to hang out with again and making new friends. And I've got already people down there that that I trust and guys that will look over me."
Prior to moving to Phoenix, the Cardinals organization resided in St. Louis and Chicago. As the St. Louis Cardinals, the team selected 13 Texas Longhorns including TE William Harris (7th round in 1987), C Gene Chilton (3rd round in 1986), OT Doug Dawson (2nd round in 1984), QB Rick McIvor (3rd round in 1984), LB Jeff Leiding (5th round in 1984), RB John Walker (9th round in 1984), C Mike Ruether (supplemental pick in the 1st round in 1984), DB Vance Bedford (5th round in 1982), DT Bill Acker (6th round in 1980), DT Ernest Lee (5th round in 1977), LB Rick Fenlaw (12th round in 1977), DB Marty Atkins (11th round in 1976) and RB James Saxton (11th round in 1962). As the Chicago Cardinals, the club drafted six Texas Longhorns including RB Don Fambrough (27th round in 1945), RB Joe Magliolo (17th round in 1944), TE Jack West (21st round in 1944), T Stan Mauldin (7th round in 1943), G Chal Daniel (6th round in 1942) and RB Jack Crain (17th round in 1942).
Overall the Cardinals organization has selected 23 Texas Longhorns from the NFL Draft, including Okafor.
Okafor, the 2012 CFPA Elite Defensive Lineman Trophy winner, registered a Valero Alamo Bowl record 4.5 sacks in the Longhorns 31-27 victory over the Oregon State Beavers on December 29 in San Antonio. In Texas' dramatic come from behind win, Okafor tallied eight tackles (5 solo), 4.5 sacks, six tackles for loss and one forced fumble. Texas set a Valero Alamo Bowl record for sacks with ten against Oregon State, shattering the previous record of five, which is shared by four teams.

"We think he can play end and he can play outside backer," said Brown. "The performance that he had against Oregon State was unbelievable with four-and-a-half sacks- it broke a record. Again, I think his [best football] is ahead of him because he is going to get bigger and stronger. He is a four-year guy, just like Marquise [Goodwin], neither one red-shirted. He has a lot of up side." 



In 2012, Okafor led the team in sacks (12.5), QB pressures (18), forced fumbles (4) and tackles for loss (18). He tallied 68 total tackles (42 solo), and he also registered one blocked kick. His 12.5 sack total is the third best single-season mark in Texas history.

The Pflugerville, Texas, native is a fourth-year player who has appeared in 52 games on the defensive line, including 33 starts (tops on the defense). He had a 32-start streak end due to injury in the 2012 Kansas State game.

He was voted 2012 Team Captain (along with Kenny Vaccaro) at the end of the regular season by his teammates. He earned the Roy Williams-Joe Jamail Leadership Award, shared the team's Clyde Littlefield Most Spirited Defensive Player Award with Desmond Jackson and Kenny Vaccaro and also shared the team's Joseph W. Moore Tenacity Award for Defense with Vaccaro.


For his career, Okafor has tallied 178 tackles (92 solo), 22 sacks, 38 TFL, 54 quarterback pressures, 8 forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

Okafor isa two-time first team All-Big 12 choice (2011-12), the 2012 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year by CBSSports.com and was named to the 2012 Nagurski Trophy, Bednarik Award, Lombardi Award and CFPA Defensive Lineman of the Year Trophy watch lists. He was tabbed 2012 preseason first-team All-America by Athlon, Blue Ribbon and Phil Steele magazines and was a 2011 AFCA FBS Coaches' All-American. Okafor was also a unanimous 2011 first team All-Big 12 selection (Coaches) and was named first team All-Big 12 (AP, Kansas City Star, Fort Worth Star-Telegram) and second team (San Antonio Express-News) that same year.

Okafor is a two-time academic all-district selection and a three-time member of UT's Athletics Director's Honor Roll.

