Position: Offensive guard Name Kelechi Osemele Place of birth: Houston, Texas Role American football player | College: Iowa State Height 1.96 m Roster status: Active Weight 151 kg | |
 | ||
Date of birth: (1989-06-24) June 24, 1989 (age 26) NFL draft: 2012 / Round: 2 / Pick: 60 Current team Balti Ravens (#72 / Tackle) Education Langham Creek High School, Iowa State University Parents Imelda Osemele, Paul Osemele Similar People Eugene Monroe, John Harbaugh, Jim Caldwell, Randy Brown Profiles | ||
Kelechi Osemele vs Oklahoma
Kelechi Keith Ayo Osemele (; ; born June 24, 1989) is an American football guard for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Iowa State University. He was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft, and was a rookie starter throughout the team's Super Bowl XLVII championship run that season.
Contents
Early years
Of Nigerian descent, his name Kelechi means "Thank God" in the Igbo language. Osemele was born and raised in Houston, where he attended Langham Creek High School.
College career
Entering his senior season at Iowa State in 2011, Osemele had started 30 consecutive games. He was a second team all Big 12 selection in 2009 and an honorable mention in 2010.
Baltimore Ravens
Osemele was selected in the second round (60th overall) in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens. He started at right tackle in every Ravens game during his rookie season. He replaced the injured Jah Reid at left guard for the Ravens' playoff run. This, along with the insertion of Bryant McKinnie at left tackle and the move of Michael Oher to right tackle, solidified the offensive line. With the Ravens finishing 10-6, the team won the AFC North pennant and eventually won Super Bowl XLVII over the San Francisco 49ers, making Osemele's rookie year successful giving him his first championship title.
On November 1, 2013, it was announced Osemele would have back surgery. After playing seven games, he would finish the rest of the 2013 season on injured reserve.
Osemele successfully recovered from back surgery and started all but two games for the Ravens in the 2014 season.
Oakland Raiders
Osemele signed a five-year $60 million contract with the Oakland Raiders on March 10, 2016. He was selected to his first Pro Bowl for the 2016 season along with fellow Raider offensive linemen Donald Penn and Rodney Hudson. He was also named First-team All-Pro. He was also ranked 95th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017.