Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah is projected to be the first defensive back taken some time Thursday night in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He’s projected to go somewhere between No. 3 and No. 10. It’s looking like the Lions, but that could change if rumored trades start to create chaos.
For Okudah, though, he is used to chaos, and anything surrounding where and when he gets drafted won’t come close to comparing to the adversity he’s had to deal with already in his early life.
That’s because Okudah’s mother passed away just one week after he arrived on the campus of Ohio State as a freshman early enrollee. She fought hard, but finally succumbed to cancer after a long battle — seemingly once she knew her little boy had made it to college and accomplished a dream.
ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi hosted a brief story of his journey from his high school in Grand Prairie, TX, through the tough times helping and caring for his mother. It has all culminated through his rise as a top NFL prospect as he developed at Ohio State.
If you haven’t seen it, the piece is one that’s well worth a watch and could leave you a little misty-eyed. Just click on the below story that was shared on ESPN’s Twitter profile and grab a tissue.
If you’re an Ohio State fan, you’ve already been rooting for this kid. Anyone else seeing this has to also be wishing nothing but success for a guy that’s shown resiliency, respect, and determination already in life.
