Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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2016 RECRUITING ISSUE JULIAN OKWARA DEFENSIVE END 6-4 · 216 ARDREY KELL H.S. CHARLOTTE, N.C. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 18 17 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 49 14 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 25 11 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 243 30 7 MEASURABLES • Posted a 4.63 time in the 40-yard dash. • Recorded a 255-pound bench press and can squat 415 pounds. STATISTICS • As a senior, registered 84 tackles and nine sacks during a 7-6 season. Also notched four forced fumbles and a blocked field goal and also caught a pair of touchdown passes on offense. • Recorded 90 tackles and 10 sacks as a junior. HONORS • Selected to the USA Today All-North Carolina second team. • Named to The Charlotte Observer's Great Eight squad as the top defensive lineman. • Picked to The Charlotte Observer's first-team defense. ALL-STAR GAMES AND CAMPS • Picked for the North Carolina team in the 2015 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, but did not play in the game. RECRUITMENT • Gave his verbal commitment to Notre Dame on April 14, 2015. • Also received offers from Boston College, Cal, Clemson, Duke, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Caro- lina State, Pittsburgh, Vanderbilt, Virginia and Vir- ginia Tech, among others. • Unofficially visited Notre Dame on March 26, 2015, and officially visited Notre Dame on Dec. 11, 2015. • Primarily recruited by linebackers coach Mike Elston, with defensive line coach Keith Gilmore also involved. NOTABLE • Born Dec. 27, 1997. • Is the younger brother of defensive end Ro- meo Okwara, who graduated from Notre Dame in December and is headed to the NFL. Interest- ingly, Romeo will not turn 21 years old until June because he graduated high school at age 16, while Julian just celebrated his 18th birthday as a high school senior. 2016 PROJECTION • He is a candidate to contribute as a pass rusher as a freshman. THEY SAID IT • Head coach Brian Kelly (courtesy UND.com): "Julian is the second younger brother signee of this class, and like his brother Romeo, Julian excels on and off the field in spectacular fashion. "I am anxious to get Julian to campus and to see his career take off." • Defensive line coach Keith Gilmore: "Julian is a lit- tle different from his brother. Romeo could dominate at point, whereas Julian is more of a finesse player. "He's going to give us a dimension we kind of lack. He's got a lot of quick twitch about him." • BGI football analyst Bryan Driskell: "Okwara has the length and athleticism to eventually develop into a dynamic edge rusher for the Irish. He is a perfect fit for the weakside end position in the Irish defense. "He has a tremendous first step and outstanding agility. He explodes off the line, often getting past high school tackles before they are out of their stance. His loose hips and quickness allow him to make fast and easy second moves."