Assayer of Student Opinion.

The Prospector

Assayer of Student Opinion.

The Prospector

Assayer of Student Opinion.

The Prospector

Subscribe to our newsletter

* indicates required
Prospector Poll

Applebee's or Chili's?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...
E-EDITION

Chukwukelo hoping to hear his name called in NFL draft

Miner+defensive+lineman+Denzel+Chukwukelo+looks+downfield+versus+New+Mexico+State+Sep.+23%2C+2017.
Michael Reese courtesy of UTEP Athletics
Miner defensive lineman Denzel Chukwukelo looks downfield versus New Mexico State Sep. 23, 2017.

NFL prospect, defensive tackle Denzel Chukwukelu, is trying to earn a spot with a team come this year’s draft. The COVID-19 outbreak has made the process quite different for this year’s draft with team workouts canceled and a remote selection process. 

Chukwukelu is 6-4, 290-pound defensive lineman which is the desired frame in todays NFL for the position. Chukwukelu played in all 12 games, registering 23 tackles, followed by three sacks and one forced fumble for his last season.  

The best game of Chukwukelus senior year came against UTSA, where he registered four total tackles and one sackAgainst Texas Tech University, he racked up three total tackles, with one sack and one forced fumble.  

In his junior year, he played all 12 games and made eight starts for the Miners. Chukwukelu led all the defensive lineman with 42 tackles, 15 solo tackles and adding 6.5 sacks for loss. He tied  for first in Conference USA with two blocked kicks and had seven quarterback hurries. Chukwukelu had similar numbers on the stat sheet in his junior year to prospect Channing Hames from The University of Marshall Thundering Herd, who was named in the top 25 rated defensive tackles for 2019 on Champion Insiders. 

For his four-year careerChukwukelu accumulated 91 total tackles, with 43 being solo.  He also had 13.5 tackles for a loss and two forced fumbles. 

Some of the teams that seem to have the most buzz about the senior defensive lineman are the New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans and the Dallas Cowboys. There are no workouts at the teams facilities, so scouting is conducted virtually.  

Currently, in this pandemic, Chukwukelo is staying active to keep his body in shape. 

 I do 500 pushups every day, staying healthy, staying in football shape, doing workouts,” Chukwukelu said to the El Paso Times. “When I get to a team, I won’t have to catch up.” 

The odds are a bit stacked against him, being selected in this years draft with many other players who have played in a much bigger spotlight at better known schools. But Chukwukelo has been a disruptive defensive player at times while ranking first in ConferenceUSA and tied for fifth in NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) with seven quarterback hurries as a junior. Chukwukelo also blocked two blocked kicks in his junior year. His ability to shine with his versatility is catching the attention of some teams.  

Danny Lopez may be reached at [email protected] 

. 

Leave a Comment
About the Contributor
Daniel Alec Lopez is senior Digital Media Production. Daniel joined The Prospector in 2019 as a contributor for multimedia, sports, and entertainment.  After graduation, Daniel hopes to relocate somewhere else in Texas and work in broadcasting or any kind of journalism job. 
More to Discover

Comments (0)

All The Prospector Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Activate Search
Chukwukelo hoping to hear his name called in NFL draft