Orakpo is expected to transfer his unique pass rushing skills developed at the University of Texas to the NFL. He brings great speed, versatility and work ethic to the Redskins, who drafted him in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft. In 2008, Orakpo was college football’s most dominant defensive end, recording 11.5 sacks. In four years at Texas, he started 21-of-49 games and registered 103 tackles (75 solo), 23 sacks, 34.5 tackles for a loss, six forced fumbles and 36 quarterback pressures.
How Acquired: Drafted by the Redskins in the first round (13th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft
Pro:
Is expected to begin his pro career playing both defensive end and linebacker
Was a former prep basketball star who developed into one of the nation’s premier defensive players
Played in 47 career games, starting 21
Won the Nagurski Trophy (nation’s top defensive player), Lombardi Award (nation’s top lineman), and Hendricks Award (nation’s top defensive end) and was a finalist for the Lott Trophy (defensive IMPACT player of the year) in 2008
Was a unanimous first-team All-American
Was the consensus Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and a unanimous first-team All-Big 12 selection
Regarded as one of the strongest members of the Longhorn team who was named the nation’s top workout warrior by ESPN; he bench presses 515 lbs., squats 600 lbs. and power cleans 380 pounds
Posted 132 tackles (93 solo), 22 sacks (Tied for No. 10 on UT’s all-time list), 38 TFL, 62 pressures, six PBD, six forced fumbles and a fumble recovery during his career
Played in 12 games as a senior, starting 12, in 2008, missing the better part of two-and-a-half games due to a knee injury
Tallied 42 tackles (31 solo) and led the team with 11.5 sacks (Sixth NCAA), 19 tackles for a loss (tied for seventh in NCAA), 30 pressures and four forced fumbles (tied for 12th in NCAA)
Was named the Lott Trophy IMPACT Player of the week twice for his performances against Arkansas and No. 1 Oklahoma
Battled a knee injury for the entire 2007 season but capped the year by earning Defensive MVP honors at the Holiday Bowl
Appeared in nine games as a junior, starting eight, in 2007, missing four due to a right knee injury
Tallied 37 tackles, nine TFL, 5.5 sacks, 12 pressures, two pass break-ups and a forced fumble
Played in all 13 games as a sophomore and recorded 26 tackles, six tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks and two pass break-ups
Played in all 13 games, starting one, as the top backup at defensive end in 2005
Was named Defensive Freshman of the Year and first-team Freshman All-America by The Sporting News
Earned Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year from the league’s coaches and The Sporting News
Earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors from the Big 12 coaches
Recorded 27 tackles, four tackles for a loss, a half-sack, nine pressures, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble
Gained experience on the scout team as a redshirt in 2004
Was a member of UT’s Athletics Director’s Honor Roll (Spring 2008)
Three-year letterman at Lamar High School in Houston (Lamar’s team nickname is the Redskins)
Was a starter at defensive end as a sophomore, junior and senior in high school
Was a two-time first-team all-district selection
Helped his team to a 29-8 mark in those three seasons he started at Lamar
Was part of a Lamar squad that posted at least nine victories all three years
Was twice tabbed an all-district defensive end
Also saw action at tight end
Tabbed second-team All-Greater Houston and first-team all-district 18-5A as a senior
Posted 36 tackles, 12 TFL and nine sacks but missed one-third of games due to injury
Had three sacks and eight solo tackles vs. Yates that year
Posted two sacks and seven solo tackles versus Sam Houston as a senior
Helped his team to an 11-2 record and the state quarterfinals in 2003
Earned first-team all-district 18-5A honors as a junior
Posted 10 sacks in helping Lamar to a 9-3 record and a spot in the regional finals that year
Was a starting defensive end for a 9-3 regional finalist squad as a sophomore
Played basketball during his freshman through junior years.
Born in Houston, Texas
Graduated University of Texas with a degree in youth and community studies
Was a member of UT’s Athletics Director’s Honor Roll (Spring 2008)
Was a prep honor roll student who posted better than a 3.0 GPA
Was active in UT’s community service program
Participated in the Teen Summit program, promoting voting as part of the youth council
