C.J. Okoye remembers his first football lesson as a then-offensive lineman at a camp in Africa.

"Don't let this guy get to this guy. This guy is the most important guy in the league. He's the quarterback," Okoye remembers being told.

Okoye hails from Agbogugu, Nigeria, and came to America in 2023. After one season with the Los Angeles Chargers, he is now a hulking 6-foot-6, 370-pound defensive tackle for the Ravens.

Even amongst very large human beings, Okoye stands out. He's massive. But now, Okoye is standing out for more reasons. In the Ravens' preseason opener, in which he recorded three tackles and a massive quarterback hit, Okoye looked more like an NFL-ready player.

"He's really learning," Head Coach John Harbaugh said Monday. "[He's] making good use of all that size he has. He'

See Full Page