Notre Dame football: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah dominates in NFL debut
By Brad Weiss
Former Notre Dame football star Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah got his first NFL preseason action on Saturday, and he certainly did not disappoint.
Last season, the Notre Dame football team got outstanding production from Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who many felt was ticketed to be a top-10 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. However, the NFL Draft did not go as planned for JOK, as a medical issue popped up, and was cleared, but not before leading to him falling to the second round.
On Day 2, the Cleveland Browns were waiting with open arms, getting arguably one of the top-5 defensive players in the draft class with the No. 52 overall pick. For JOK, it has been a strange summer so far, as he missed time due to COVID-19 protocols, but was able to make it back in time to play in the Browns preseason opener against Jacksonville.
It was a reunion of sorts for JOK in preseason game No. 1, as he played against Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence in his second-to-last collegiate game, the ACC Championship. Though he lost that game as a member of the Notre Dame football team, the results were much different for him on Saturday.
Notre Dame football star leads Browns defense
During the Browns 23-13 victory on the road in the preseason opener, JOK was the star for the team on the defensive side of the ball. He was all over the field, showing the kind of prowess that should have landed him as a top-10 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
JOK not only led the Browns with eight tackles, seven of which were solo, but he also notched a quarterback sack and had three tackles for a loss. It was an overall dominating effort that has to have Browns fans excited about this crucial piece to the puzzle that was added this offseason.
His effort is no surprise to fans of the Notre Dame football team, but after missing time due to COVID, for JOK to step right in and dominate was a wonderful sight to see.
Cleveland is a team that many feel could challenge for an AFC title this season, but the defense was missing his kind of playmaking ability at that level last season. It may only be the preseason, but JOK looked fast, dominant, and ready to continue his career in a big way at the pro level.