Football | April 27, 2018

DALLAS- Western Michigan offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers as the third round, 28th pick (92nd overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft. With his selection, it marks the third year in a row a Western Michigan offensive lineman has been called, following Willie Beavers (2015, 4th round - Vikings) and Taylor Moton (2016, 2nd round - Panthers).

Okorafor was the first player taken from the Mid-American Conference and the first player selected from a Michigan school in the 2018 NFL Draft. It marks the second straight year WMU has repeated the feat of producing the first draftee from both the MAC and a player from a program within the state of Michigan.

"You see him get better each year, each time out there playing," Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak told reporters after selecting Okorafor. "You get a guy who doesn't have a whole lot of bad habits. He's not even close to being developed the way he can be, so I'm just excited about all the upside he has and looking forward to working with him."

Born in Nigeria, "Chuks" and his family moved to South Africa for a year when he was 6, then spent the next six years in the Republic of Botswana before coming to the United States in 2010. After establishing themselves in the area of Southfield, Mich., Chuks picked up football - and the rest is history.

As a senior at Western Michigan in 2017, Okorafor earned six All-America recognitions, including FWAA First Team, Phil Steele First Team, Walter Camp Second Team and Sports Illustrated Second Team. His six All-America selections are the second most in Western Michigan history, behind Corey Davis's nine (Davis was the 5th overall NFL draft pick in 2016).

The 6-6, 320-pound Okorafor has been a three-year starter for Western Michigan and is a two-time Mid-American Conference First Team selection. Headed into 2017 he was named the No. 4 tackle to watch in the nation by Mel Kiper and he was named 1 of 6 semifinalists for the Outland Trophy at the year's end. In 2016, Okorafor helped lead Western Michigan to a perfect 13-0 regular season record, Mid-American Conference Championship, Goodyear Cotton Bowl appearance and a final No. 15 national ranking.

Over the last three years with Okorafor, Western Michigan has had one of the top rushing offenses in the nation. WMU ranked 29th in the nation in 2015, 24th in 2016 and 23rd in 2017, averaging 224.8 yards per game. Seven different players rushed for 26 touchdowns for WMU this past fall.

With Okorafor's selection it also marks the second consecutive season WMU has had a player drafted by Pittsburgh. Defensive end Keion Adams was taken by the Steelers in the 7th round in 2016.