Uzooma Okeke
Encyclopedia
Uzooma Okeke 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.
(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.
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.
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
tackle for the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
. He won a Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
with Montreal in 2002. Okeke is currently the Football Operations Assistant/Scout for the Montreal Alouettes.
College career
Uzooma Okeke was a two-year starter at offensive tackle at Southern Methodist UniversitySouthern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
(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
Forrest Gregg
Alvis Forrest Gregg is a former American football player and coach in the National Football League. During a Pro Football Hall of Fame playing career, he was a part of six championships, five of them with the Green Bay Packers before closing out his tenure with the Dallas Cowboys with a win in...
, 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 GreggForrest Gregg
Alvis Forrest Gregg is a former American football player and coach in the National Football League. During a Pro Football Hall of Fame playing career, he was a part of six championships, five of them with the Green Bay Packers before closing out his tenure with the Dallas Cowboys with a win in...
recruited him to play for the Shreveport Pirates
Shreveport Pirates
The Shreveport Pirates were a Canadian Football League team, playing at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana, USA, in 1994 and 1995....
in 1994 and 1995, and that began his CFL
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
career. He moved to the Ottawa Rough Riders
Ottawa Rough Riders
The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...
in 1996, but in 1997 started his very successful (10 year) career with the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
. He was a durable mainstay of their offensive line, being named an All-Star six times, and in 1998 won the Leo Dandurand Trophy
Leo Dandurand Trophy
The Leo Dandurand Trophy is a Canadian Football League trophy is awarded to the Most Outstanding Lineman in the East Division. The winner of this trophy is chosen from a group of nominees, one from each team in the East Division...
as best lineman in the East, and in 1999 won the CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award
CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award
The Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award is annually rewarded to the best offensive lineman in the Canadian Football League. This is the fourth-last award to be given during the CFL Awards banquet, which takes place the week before Grey Cup weekend in the same city where it is hosted...
. He retired as a player prior to the 2007 season and joined the Alouettes as a scout.