Julian Okwara

Pro Career:

Drafted by Detroit in the third round (67^th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft. Released by the Lions on 1/18/24 and signed to Detroit's practice squad on 1/20/24. Signed with Philadelphia on 2/14/24 and was released by the Eagles on 8/26/24. Signed to the Cardinals practice squad on 8/28/24. Signed to the Cardinals active roster on 9/11/24.

Pro Career:

Drafted by Detroit in the third round (67^th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft. Released by the Lions on 1/18/24 and signed to Detroit's practice squad on 1/20/24. Signed with Philadelphia on 2/14/24 and was released by the Eagles on 8/26/24. Signed to the Cardinals practice squad on 8/28/24. Signed to the Cardinals active roster on 9/11/24.

2024: Had two tackles in his Cardinals debut vs. LAR (9/15).

2023: Appeared in nine games (one start) and had six tackles, four QB hits, 2.0 sacks and one pass defensed … sacked Baker Mayfield and had a pass defensed @ TB (10/15) … started vs. LV (10/30) and brought down Jimmy Garoppolo for a loss of seven yards.

2022: Played 10 games (two starts) and had 17 tackles (three for loss) and 2.0 sacks … started @ Dal (10/23) and had three tackles, including one for loss … had a career-high five tackles vs. GB (11/6) … sacked Justin Fields twice for a total loss of 12 yards @ Chi (11/13), marking the second multi-sack game of his NFL career.

2021: Played in a career-best 13 games (one start) and set career highs in tackles (27), QB hits (9), tackles for loss (6), sacks (5.0), passes defensed (2), INTs (1), forced fumbles (1) and fumble recoveries (1) … had three tackles (one for loss) @ Chi (10/3) … sacked Joe Burrow for a loss of 10 yards vs. Cin (10/17), marking his first NFL sack; finished the game with three tackles, two QB hits and 1.0 sack … sacked Matthew Stafford resulting in a seven-yard loss the following week @ LAR (10/24); added three tackles and one pass defensed in the contest … intercepted Mason Rudolph @ Pit (11/14) for a nine-yard return, the INT marked the first of his NFL career … sacked Kirk Cousins for a three-yard loss vs. Min (12/5) and recovered a Cousins fumble which he returned for six yards; became the first Lion since 2018 to have a sack and a fumble recovery in a game … made the first start of his NFL career in the season finale vs. GB (1/9/22) where he sacked Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love; the sack of Love resulted in an eight-yard loss and a fumble; it marked the first multi-sack game of his NFL career.

2020: Started Played six games as a rookie and had three tackles (one for loss) … made his NFL debut vs. Chi (9/13) … had a season-high two tackles (one for loss) vs. TB (12/26) … had a tackle in the season finale vs. Min (1/3/21).

College:

Played four seasons (2016-19) at Notre Dame where he appeared in 45 games (21 starts) and recorded 77 total tackles, 23.0 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, two INTs and one fumble recovery … served as a team captain as a senior in 2019; started all nine games he played in and had 18 tackles, 4.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick … as a junior in 2018, started 12-of-13 games and had 38 tackles, a team-high 8.0 sacks, one INT and one forced fumble … played in 12 games as a sophomore in 2017 and totaled 17 tackles, 2.5 sacks, one INT and one forced fumble … played in 11 games as a true freshman in 2016 and tallied four tackles.

Personal:

Attended Ardrey Kell (Charlotte, NC) High School … born in London and lived in Nigeria until he was eight years old … earned first-team all-state honors by the Charlotte Observer as a senior in 2015 after posting 84 tackles and 9.0 sacks in 12 games … majored in Management Consulting.