Former Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah recalls injury-filled start to NFL career, goals for 2022

The NFL has been filled with nightmares for Jeff Okudah since he realized his dream of making it to the pinnacle of football.

To illustrate, the former Ohio State star came into the league with great expectations, drafted No. 3 overall by the Detroit Lions in the 2020 NFL Draft. However, multiple injuries plagued his rookie season, and a torn Achilles changed everything during Week 1 of his sophomore season.

Now, Okudah is hoping to finally find his footing as he enters Year 3 of his NFL journey.

“I just had big hopes for that last year,” Okudah said earlier this week, via the team’s website. “It kind of felt like I was living a nightmare.”

While the disappoint was evident, there’s good news — Lions coach Dan Campbell has no worries when it comes to Okudah in 2022.

“We’re not worried about Jeff’s movement skills,” Campbell said. “Like, he’s going to be able to move. You watch him, with his footwork and the things that he’s doing, he can do all that.

“That is real important right now, is just continuing his growth mentally and him being able to get the walkthrough reps and just to get the film study. Those things are big for him right now. So, it’s good to have him here, to have him available to do that. When the time’s right, to go full speed when we get him in camp, he’ll be ready.”

Moreover, Okudah isn’t short on confidence either. According to the former Ohio State star, he’s been picking the brains of athletes who have dealt with the disappointing injury he’s on the way back from. Evidently, things have been positive.

“They just kind of gave me the confidence that, you know, the Achilles will be the least of your worries,” Okudah said. “It will be about getting back mentally, taking care of the rest of your body. For me, that was really reassuring going into the process.”

As he gets back onto the football field, Jeff Okudah is ready to prove to the football world why he was once so highly-touted.

“I feel like I’ve been hungry like I haven’t ate in years,” Okudah said. “That hunger has just been inside of me since the injury. Really, even before the injury, so I’ve had that feeling, man, it’s about to be two years. Just that hunger.

“So, I’m ready to go out there and just play to the best of my ability.”