Background
Odighizuwa was born in Columbus, Ohio. He grew up playing soccer in Nigeria, and by the time he reached junior high in the David Douglas School District, he was more into track & field and basketball.
Odighizuwa was born in Columbus, Ohio. He grew up playing soccer in Nigeria, and by the time he reached junior high in the David Douglas School District, he was more into track & field and basketball.
He attended David Douglas High School, playing all four seasons for the school.
He was drafted by the Giants in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He played college football at University of California, Los Los Angeles
He returned to the United States five years later, moving to Portland, Oregon in 2001. lieutenant wasn"t until eighth grade that he decided to play football.
As a senior, he made 90 tackles, including 10 sacks, and recorded 96 tackles, 22 for loss, as a junior.
He was selected to play in the 2010 United States. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas. And was one of a handful of national players named an All-American by United States of America Today.
In track & field, Odighizuwa competed as a sprinter (744 in the 60m and 118 in the 100m) and as a shot putter (top-throw of 48-7 or 1486m). He accepted a scholarship offer to play college football from University of California, Los Angeles on 2010 National Signing Day.
He made six starts as a true freshman in 2010 for the Bruins, recording 10 tackles and three sacks for the season.
In 2011, he appeared in all 14 games, recording 21 tackles including three for loss. In 2012, he saw action in all 14 games, recording 44 tackles, including six for loss and 3.5 sacks. He missed the entire 2013 season recovering from right hip surgery, garnering himself a medical redshirt.
He returned in 2014, completely recovered from his injury.
He recorded 61 tackles, including 11.5 for loss, six sacks, and five pass breakups, earning himself second-team All-Pac-12 honors. 2015 NFL Draft
New York Giants
Odighizuwa was drafted by the New York Giants in the third round with the 74th overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft.
Comparisons were immediately made between Odighizuwa and former Giants Delaware Justin Tuck, as they were both drafted in the third round as the 74th overall pick in the draft after falling due to injury concerns, and because it was believed that Odighizuwa, like Tuck, could shift inside on passing downs as part of a 4 Delaware pass rush. Unfortunately, due to injuries, his rookie season became essentially a redshirt season for Odighizuwa, as he ended the season on International Rectifier .