Uzooma Okeke
Date of birth | September 3, 1970 |
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Place of birth | Beaumont, Texas |
Career information | |
CFL status | International |
Position(s) | OT |
College | Southern Methodist |
Career history | |
As player | |
1994–1995 | Shreveport Pirates |
1996 | Ottawa Rough Riders |
1997–2006 | Montreal Alouettes |
Career highlights and awards | |
CFL All-Star | 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 |
CFL East All-Star | 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 |
Career stats | |
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Uzooma Okeke (born September 3, 1970) was a Canadian Football League tackle for the Montreal Alouettes. He won a Grey Cup with Montreal in 2002. Okeke is currently the Football Operations Assistant/Scout for the Montreal Alouettes.[1][2]
College career
Uzooma Okeke was a two-year starter at offensive tackle at Southern Methodist University (SMU), playing both offense and defense. He was on the team that brought football back to SMU following their penalty. Under the tutelage of Forrest Gregg, he blossomed both on the football field and in persevering to obtain his college degree. He graduated from SMU with a degree in Public Relations.
CFL career
Forrest Gregg recruited him to play for the Shreveport Pirates in 1994 and 1995, and that began his CFL career. He moved to the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1996, but in 1997 started his very successful (10 year) career with the Montreal Alouettes. He was a durable mainstay of their offensive line, being named an All-Star six times, and in 1998 won the Leo Dandurand Trophy as best lineman in the East, and in 1999 won the CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award. He retired as a player prior to the 2007 season and joined the Alouettes as a scout.
He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2014.
References
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- 1970 births
- Garland High School alumni
- African-American players of Canadian football
- Canadian Football Hall of Fame inductees
- Canadian football offensive linemen
- Grey Cup champions
- Living people
- Montreal Alouettes players
- Ottawa Rough Riders players
- People from Beaumont, Texas
- Shreveport Pirates players
- SMU Mustangs football players
- Canadian football offensive lineman stubs