Brian Orakpo life and biography

Brian Orakpo is an American football linebacker for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League.

Orakpo transfered his unique pass rushing skills developed at the University of Texas to the Redskins in his rookie season. He brings great speed, versatility and work ethic. In 2010, Orakpo started all 16 games and posted 60 tackles and 11 sacks, tied for most on the team. For his efforts, he was voted to the Pro Bowl. 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.

PRO:
o Played and started in 16 career regular season games.
o Totaled 60 career tackles (27 solo) and 11 sacks.
* First Redskins rookie defensive player and the sixth linebacker since the 1970 merger to play in the Pro Bowl and one of three NFL rookies to be named to the 2010 Pro Bowl.
* Finished tied for fourth in the NFC and tied for seventh in the NFL in sacks (11) with fellow Redskin Andre Carter.
* Set a Redskins rookie record for sacks in 2010

2009 (Redskins)
* Played and started in 16 games as a rookie.
* Totaled 60 tackles (27 solo) and 11 sacks.
o Named to the 2010 Pro Bowl.
o Finished fourth in balloting for the Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
* Recorded first career sack against the Detroit Lions (9/27).
* First Redskin rookie to have at least a half-sack in four straight games.
* Recorded first multi-sack game of his career at Atlanta (11/8).
* Set a career high for sacks (4) in one game at Oakland (12/13), earning the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week award.
* Set a Redskins rookie record for sacks.
* Led all NFL rookies in sacks.
* Finished tied for fourth in the NFC and tied for seventh in the NFL in sacks (11) with fellow Redskin defensive end Andre Carter.

COLLEGE
* 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)

PERSONAL
* 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
* His uncle Chike played football at Iowa

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