Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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60 NOV. 7, 2020 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED IRISH IN THE PROS BY ANDREW MENTOCK D allas Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith led the NFL in tackles (73) through week seven, but his real pur- suit is to be remembered more for what he does off the field than what he accomplishes between the white lines on Sundays. A few years ago, he created the Minority Entrepreneurship Institute (MEI). With this enterprise, his mis- sion is to inspire and actively support minority entrepreneurs. Through hosting MEI Showcases in both Fort Wayne, Ind., and Texas, which entails an application process and Shark-Tank-like pitch competi- tion, Smith has used MEI to invest his own money, as well as raised cap- ital, into minority-owned businesses. For instance, at the MEI Texas Show- case from earlier this year, three busi- nesses received a combined $350,000. While this is certainly an admi- rable philanthropic venture, Smith said there is so much more work that must be done when it comes to help- ing minority entrepreneurs become successful. Over the summer, Smith penned an op-ed for The Dallas Morning News: We can close the wealth gap by investing in minority entrepreneurs. "I am honored to play for America's Team, and I've been privileged to live the American dream," Smith wrote. "But too many people who look like me don't believe that dream is avail- able to them. Sadly, statistics confirm their fears. African-American me- dian net worth averages a dime com- pared to a dollar for white Americans ($17,600 vs. $171,000, respectively)." And Smith isn't stopping with the $350,000 MEI invested in three busi- nesses owned by minorities in the state of Texas over the summer. "I've pledged $2.5 million over 10 years to spur our investments, and we are gaining co-investors who share my belief that capital can be used to make the American Dream accessible to every Texan," Smith wrote. "Minority entrepreneurs are the game-changers who can make an inclusive economy come to life." AFTER A DISAPPOINTING 2019, ROMEO OKWARA BOUNCES BACK In his first season with Detroit in 2018, Romeo Okwara started 14 games at defensive end and regis- tered 39 tackles, 7.5 sacks and 14 quarterback hits. It seemed this for- mer undrafted free agent had as- cended and was going to become a productive starter and NFL mainstay. But in 2019, Okwara struggled. He started just one game, totaled only 28 tackles and his reputation as a feared pass rusher took a hit while he fin- ished the season with just 1.5 sacks and 10 quarterback hits. All of a sudden, his NFL future ap- peared uncertain. So far in 2020, he has proved his skeptics wrong. In six games, Ok- wara already has 15 tackles (five for loss), four sacks and 10 quarterback hits, and is on his way to his best NFL season yet. In week seven against the Atlanta Falcons, Okwara also came up with an important strip sack on quarter- back Matt Ryan in the fourth quarter that helped the Lions win 23-22. "Romeo has been unbelievable. Re- ally, he and [fellow Lions defensive end] Trey Flowers are two guys that come to work every single day, and they make each other better," Lions head coach Matt Patricia said after the game. "They really spend a lot of time together, talking about the game and technique and how they practice. They stay after practice a lot and they work on individual funda- mental skills. "You can just see the growth that Romeo has had, certainly just being out there and playing and getting better every single week, but it's not a surprise because he works re- ally hard. This guy works extremely hard. He wants to be great." Per the Lions, he was one of just two defensive ends in the NFL with a streak of five games with a tackle for loss. Okwara joined the Buccaneers' Jason Pierre-Paul and the Browns' Myles Garrett as the lone defensive ends with at least four sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. There is still a lot of football left to be played this season, but already Ok- wara has proven he is one of the best defenders on a 3-3 Lions team with an outside chance at the playoffs. This outcome did not seem pos- sible last season, but once again Ok- wara is defying expectations during his NFL career. ✦ The NFL's leading tackler through seven weeks in 2020, Smith is an inspiration off the field who actively supports minority entrepreneurs through his own personal investments and networking efforts to attract additional investors. PHOTO BY JAMES D. SMITH/COURTESY DALLAS COWBOYS The Cowboys' Jaylon Smith Fights The Wage Gap NOTRE DAME IN THE NFL: WEEK SEVEN HIGHLIGHTS • Will Fuller V (Played at Notre Dame from 2013-15), WR, Houston Texans: Snagged three catches for 35 yards and a touchdown in the 1-6 Texans' 35-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers … Has 31 grabs for 490 yards (14th in the NFL) and five touchdowns (tied for fifth) this season. • Khalid Kareem (2016-19), DE, Cincinnati Bengals: Recorded a career-high four tackles in the 1-5-1 Bengals' 37-34 loss to the Cleveland Browns … Has nine stops on the season. • Sam Mustipher (2014-18), OL, Chicago Bears: Was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster three weeks ago and played 26 snaps on offense in the 5-2 Bears' 24-10 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. • Golden Tate (2007-09), WR, New York Giants: Snagged one catch for 39 yards and a touchdown in the 1-6 Giants' 22-21 loss to the Eagles … On the season, he has 20 catches for 195 yards and one touchdown.