Friday, April 13, 2007
Nothing unusual about Okoye's age.
As Louisville Defensive Tackle Amobi Okoye prepares for the draft, physically and media-wise, he also prepares for the unique position that awaits him at the start of the upcoming NFL season: Becoming the youngest player to ever compete in the NFL.
What makes Okoye's story more intriguing is that he didn't have to fight his way in through the doors of financial security like Maurice Clarett, he satisfied the NFL's requirement of being three years removed from high school to be eligible to compete. By virtue of his early enrollment into college, Okoye will not need high-priced lawyers to prove his readiness to compete with his soon-to-be much older counterparts.
But while Okoye's play on the field proves that he is more than ready to compete in the NFL, his age has scouts pondering on his mental readiness for the pros. Some scouts have even suggested that Okoye might not actually be 19, reminding everyone of Danny Almonte, the little league baseball player who was revealed to be two years older than the age requirement. Being a Nigerian, a country that has drawn negative publicity for its notoriety in online fraudulent activities, it may not be uncalled for to suspect that Okoye could have altered his age. But it should not be surprising to know that there are plenty of "Amobis" from Nigeria.
I was also born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, much like Okoye was. I started attending school at two-years-old and also skipped through two classes en route to a high school graduation at 15. While friends have attributed my early graduation to my being very intelligent, and I'd love to promote that assumption, starting school at a much younger age is the reason why many Africans graduate earlier.
Not to take any credit away from Okoye. He is undoubtedly as intelligent as he's been portrayed to be--he reportedly interrupted an Algebra class soon after passing a test to allow him advance to ninth grade, to teach the class an easier method to solving an equation. Besides he, just as I did, had to pass series of tests to skip through certain grades. But he isn't where he is now because of intelligence alone. His physical and mental toughness are to be credited for his maturity. Growing up in poor, third world countries like Nigeria, where laws do not exist and survival of the fittest is the name of the game, you are forced to mature more quickly and beyond your years.
Few years ago, a teen phenom, originally from Ghana, received global attention for becoming the youngest player to sign and play for a professional team in North America when he signed with the MLS' DC United. At 14, many questioned whether Freddy Adu was ready to handle the media scrutiny and expectations of raising the profile of a struggling league, while competing against athletes several years older in a very physical sport. It's been three years since Adu turned pro and he is doing just fine. He is still being monitored by top soccer teams in Europe, one of which is Manchester United, which has expressed interest in signing Adu when he turns 18.
Okoye laid it out in every game he played for the Cardinals, commanding the respect of his team who made him captain of the defense, despite his age. He's a proven leader and accomplished player, and if you question that, just watch his game tapes. You may question his lack of closing speed or explosiveness. But on draft night, when your team, badly in need of a defensive tackle, is on the clock, and the name Amobi Okoye comes into consideration, do not question his age or maturity.
What makes Okoye's story more intriguing is that he didn't have to fight his way in through the doors of financial security like Maurice Clarett, he satisfied the NFL's requirement of being three years removed from high school to be eligible to compete. By virtue of his early enrollment into college, Okoye will not need high-priced lawyers to prove his readiness to compete with his soon-to-be much older counterparts.
But while Okoye's play on the field proves that he is more than ready to compete in the NFL, his age has scouts pondering on his mental readiness for the pros. Some scouts have even suggested that Okoye might not actually be 19, reminding everyone of Danny Almonte, the little league baseball player who was revealed to be two years older than the age requirement. Being a Nigerian, a country that has drawn negative publicity for its notoriety in online fraudulent activities, it may not be uncalled for to suspect that Okoye could have altered his age. But it should not be surprising to know that there are plenty of "Amobis" from Nigeria.
I was also born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, much like Okoye was. I started attending school at two-years-old and also skipped through two classes en route to a high school graduation at 15. While friends have attributed my early graduation to my being very intelligent, and I'd love to promote that assumption, starting school at a much younger age is the reason why many Africans graduate earlier.
Not to take any credit away from Okoye. He is undoubtedly as intelligent as he's been portrayed to be--he reportedly interrupted an Algebra class soon after passing a test to allow him advance to ninth grade, to teach the class an easier method to solving an equation. Besides he, just as I did, had to pass series of tests to skip through certain grades. But he isn't where he is now because of intelligence alone. His physical and mental toughness are to be credited for his maturity. Growing up in poor, third world countries like Nigeria, where laws do not exist and survival of the fittest is the name of the game, you are forced to mature more quickly and beyond your years.
Few years ago, a teen phenom, originally from Ghana, received global attention for becoming the youngest player to sign and play for a professional team in North America when he signed with the MLS' DC United. At 14, many questioned whether Freddy Adu was ready to handle the media scrutiny and expectations of raising the profile of a struggling league, while competing against athletes several years older in a very physical sport. It's been three years since Adu turned pro and he is doing just fine. He is still being monitored by top soccer teams in Europe, one of which is Manchester United, which has expressed interest in signing Adu when he turns 18.
Okoye laid it out in every game he played for the Cardinals, commanding the respect of his team who made him captain of the defense, despite his age. He's a proven leader and accomplished player, and if you question that, just watch his game tapes. You may question his lack of closing speed or explosiveness. But on draft night, when your team, badly in need of a defensive tackle, is on the clock, and the name Amobi Okoye comes into consideration, do not question his age or maturity.
