2011 Texans Draft Profile: Chetachi (Cheta) Ozougwu

by Patrick D. Starr on May 2, 2011 4:01 PM CDT

With the 254th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Houston Texans selected Cheta Ozougwu, linebacker from Rice University, as "Mr. Irrelevant."

A standout in the classroom with a 3.41 GPA and a degree in Economics, Cheta is considered a project player. Wade Phillips coached him in the East-West Shrine game, and Ozougwu made a positive impression on Phillips. Like his new teammate and Shrine Game veteran, Shiloh Keo, he was drafted to the Texans.

More after the jump...

Tale of the Tape

Hometown: Houston, Texas

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 247 lbs.

40 yd. time: 4.89

Bench @ 225 lbs.: 26

Awards

2010 George Martin Award, Co-Recipient (Team's MVP)

2010 All C-USA First Team (coaches)

2009 Honorable Mention All C-USA (coaches)

2007 Honorable Mention All-America Freshman (The Sporting News)

2007 Honorable Mention All C-USA Freshman (media)

After only playing two years of football in high school, Ozougwu received a scholarship to Rice University. Still learning the game, he became a starter in the fifth game of his freshman year.

The four-year letterman earned the George Martin Award (Rice's MVP) and earned Conference USA honors in his final year at Rice. He had 11 career sacks and 26 TFLs in his career there; he also had 197 total tackles, with 120 of those being unassisted.

It is nice to have a hometown player here with the Texans, and Wade Phillips must see something with Ozougwa to take a chance on him. He is still a raw player, but he's shown he has some tools that could help the Texans, perhaps on special teams or linebacker later down the line.

Poll

Do you like the Cheta Ozougwu pick?

Yes

214 votes

No

53 votes

267 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 22 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

It's great that my two least favorite picks are the 7th rounders.

That’s a big change from drafts of yesteryear.

While I don’t knock that the Texans liked Cheta, I think they could’ve gotten him as a UDFA and drafted someone else (D. Williams? C. Henry? M. Herzlich?) who may be a harder UDFA get and provided some value.

"Lord, beer me strength."

by TexansDC on May 2, 2011 3:47 PM CDT reply actions

^^This^^

People tell me, ‘Oh, you just drink to escape your problems.’ Well, no shit. I’d eat rat heads if it let me ditch my problems."

by Seaborn1 on May 2, 2011 7:16 PM CDT up reply actions

Exactly

I was hoping we’d grab Herzlich with either of our 7th round picks

Murphy’s 20th Military Law:
If it’s stupid, but it works, it ain’t stupid

by The Night Owl on May 3, 2011 12:54 AM CDT up reply actions

I agree

A free Safety like Williams would have made me feel better. Seems like since Wade had some one on one time with Cheta at the East West Shrine game, Phillips probably punked Gary and Rick and told them to shut their mouth while he worked.

"Kenny your a knucklehead." -Charles Barkley
"If winning isn't everything, then why do they keep score?" - Vince Lombardi

by Patrick D. Starr on May 2, 2011 4:27 PM CDT reply actions

Haha

" yeah, you guys need to like, you know, well, not really say anything, and um, like, sit there, like over in the corner, and let the grown ups talk at the big boy table, um, ok. Great "

Wade

by AllenOU on May 2, 2011 7:19 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs

I kind of like it

A great guy for Mr. Irrelevant

My name is Barry - I am from Texas

by Barryfromtexas on May 2, 2011 4:36 PM CDT reply actions

I think his only having played football since his junior year of high school could be a positive

He might be a relatively high upside player who just hasn’t reached his potential.

by mr.manager on May 2, 2011 6:31 PM CDT reply actions

Thank Mr.Manager!

I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.

by Rip Jersey on May 3, 2011 8:54 AM CDT up reply actions

It is a good draft

When people quibble over who we took as Mr. Irrelevant

by BleachBum on May 3, 2011 1:49 PM CDT reply actions

I predict his nickname will become.....

Cheese.

/get it? Cheta (pronounced like “Chetta”)

"My idea of an agreeable person is a person who agrees with me." -- Benjamin Disraeli

"If you really want something in life you have to work for it. Now quiet, they're about to announce the lottery numbers." -- Homer Simpson

"There is no rehab for stupid." -- Chris Rock

Never try to baptize a cat.

by texanslady on May 3, 2011 2:27 PM CDT reply actions

I get it!

I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.

by Rip Jersey on May 3, 2011 2:43 PM CDT up reply actions

I lost it.

Blind fandom is all I got left. That and this bottle of Clorox. And this Drano. And this lamp. And this paddle ball game.

by LoneSpot on May 3, 2011 2:45 PM CDT up reply actions

figures that someone with "blind" fandom would not be able to find his way...

I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.

by Rip Jersey on May 3, 2011 2:56 PM CDT up reply actions

It would be bad

If we cut him….

by BleachBum on May 3, 2011 4:38 PM CDT up reply actions

why?

it’s a natural part of the process, right?

by Cut Block on May 4, 2011 7:02 AM CDT up reply actions

I will bet anyone who wants to bet on this, THE TEXANS WILL CUT CHETA!

………and then sign him to the practice squad, shhhhhh

I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.

by Rip Jersey on May 4, 2011 7:57 AM CDT up reply actions

what you might call, sliced Cheta

ba-dum, tshhhh!

I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.

by Rip Jersey on May 4, 2011 7:58 AM CDT up reply actions

no, you shhh!

by Cut Block on May 4, 2011 8:08 AM CDT up reply actions

Because

It wouldnt be cool to “cut the cheese”

by BleachBum on May 4, 2011 9:22 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Fart Jokes

Demand a rec.

Blind fandom is all I got left. That and this bottle of Clorox. And this Drano. And this lamp. And this paddle ball game.

by LoneSpot on May 4, 2011 5:23 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm seeing...

…Jackson and Ozougwu becoming elite run stoppers, completely shutting down rushing to one side of the field. Then we’ll make signs that say, “C’mon, CJ?!? You know you can’t run through Kareem Cheese!!!”

Terrible, I know. But it had to be done.

by NWestTexan on May 5, 2011 3:35 PM CDT reply actions 2 recs