Seattle Seahawks pick Rees Odhiambo in third round of NFL draft

[Real P]

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I'm no Nostradamus, but I'm fairly confident that Seattle made a safe pick by taking their chances on Offensive Lineman Rees Odhiambo. And heaven knows, they needed one. Folks thought overcoming a bad offensive line can be done, in other words, and if any team can do it, Seattle could, but teams were dominating the Seahawks offensive line last year. Odhiambo would be a great fit for them

When he got the call: Odhiambo was not in front of the TV when he found out the Seahawks were taking him.

"I was just sitting there making dinner, not even paying attention anymore to the draft," he said. "When my phone was ringing, I was like, 'There's no way.' I just picked it up, and then once I knew who it was, I was so excited."

What was on the menu?

"Just some pot roast and some vegetables," Odhiambo said.

He is actually already in Seattle. Odhiambo is spending time with his college roommate Marcus Henry and his family.

"I did not expect that at all," Odhiambo said. "It was really awesome."

A challenging journey: Odhiambo moved to the U.S. from Kenya in 2000. His father passed away before the family made the move, and his mother died when Odhiambo was 17.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/203160/third-round-pick-rees-odhiambo-was-cooking-pot-roast-when-seahawks-called
http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/seahawks-pick-boise-state-offensive-lineman-rees-odhiambo-in-nfl-draft/


Rees Odhiambo at pro day on March 31, 2016

[Georgesoros]

Sad story thats turning out great. losing parents when young is horrible.

[Reticent Solipsist]

Back in the day, for some reason, I enjoyed watching on TV the Cornhuskers of Nebraska run their vaunted triple option play in what was then the Big Eight (today I think it's the Big Twelve). In that Nebraska squad was a Kenyan guy playing the I-B, who'd come in to spot the starters, usually in the waning moments of the game (garbage time), when the Cornhuskers were up by twenty plus points or so. The guy's name was George Achola, I believe.

As for this young guy, Rees Odhiambo, he has the three attributes that'll serve him well as an OL in the NFL: good intelligence, athleticism and strength, plus the right height. Checking his workouts on YouTube, he seems to have the agility that will come in handy when he has to fend off against the JJ Watts, Ndamakung Suhs and the Von Millers of the world as he protects his QB.

[Kadudu]

Why does it always be someone from the Lake. A Mountain guy for once would not be bad.

[Real P]

Back in the day, for some reason, I enjoyed watching on TV the Cornhuskers of Nebraska run their vaunted triple option play in what was then the Big Eight (today I think it's the Big Twelve). In that Nebraska squad was a Kenyan guy playing the I-B, who'd come in to spot the starters, usually in the waning moments of the game (garbage time), when the Cornhuskers were up by twenty plus points or so. The guy's name was George Achola, I believe.

As for this young guy, Rees Odhiambo, he has the three attributes that'll serve him well as an OL in the NFL: good intelligence, athleticism and strength, plus the right height. Checking his workouts on YouTube, he seems to have the agility that will come in handy when he has to fend off against the JJ Watts, Ndamakung Suhs and the Von Millers of the world as he protects his QB.

We had another Kenyan who played for the Indianapolis Colts named Daniel Adongo. He never fell under the journeyman category, but he certainly made a name for himself as a perennial bench warmer. He managed to get himself on rosters where, barring injury, there was absolutely no chance of him playing. He rarely saw the field unless its garbage time or a playoff spot is already locked up. Not a bad way to earn a cool $0.6 million dollar salary, if you ask me. He was a physical specimen though and in his first attempt at the NFL broad jump, he cleared 11 feet, a mark which would have placed him among the top 10 among participants at the NFL Combine. He got his chance at last and was signed to the Colts active roster from the practice squad last November, but he had problems containing his own demons when things got tight and it blighted him. The Colts finally got fed up with his off-field activities and waived him, a week after cops were called to investigate possible domestic violence involving him for the second time.

Now, back to the subject at hand. Odhiambo has starter-quality skills, however the Seattle Seahawks have some scary holes to fill on their offensive line.

[Reticent Solipsist]

Why does it always be someone from the Lake. A Mountain guy for once would not be bad.

Kadudu,

In a meritocracy, such as the NFL, where achieving optimal results are key, the premium is on value addition to the team. The pitiful shenanigans of the Kenyan tribalist leader(s) -- read president -- who'd rather prefer a mediocre tribesman even as it leads to suboptimal outcomes, just wouldn't cut it in the NFL; it would make yours a perennial 0-16 team. Ha! Then there are the tangibles - do you have the right size, speed, athleticism and strength; attributes you can't lie about once that ball is snapped.

[Reticent Solipsist]

Back in the day, for some reason, I enjoyed watching on TV the Cornhuskers of Nebraska run their vaunted triple option play in what was then the Big Eight (today I think it's the Big Twelve). In that Nebraska squad was a Kenyan guy playing the I-B, who'd come in to spot the starters, usually in the waning moments of the game (garbage time), when the Cornhuskers were up by twenty plus points or so. The guy's name was George Achola, I believe.

As for this young guy, Rees Odhiambo, he has the three attributes that'll serve him well as an OL in the NFL: good intelligence, athleticism and strength, plus the right height. Checking his workouts on YouTube, he seems to have the agility that will come in handy when he has to fend off against the JJ Watts, Ndamakung Suhs and the Von Millers of the world as he protects his QB.

We had another Kenyan who played for the Indianapolis Colts named Daniel Adongo. He never fell under the journeyman category, but he certainly made a name for himself as a perennial bench warmer. He managed to get himself on rosters where, barring injury, there was absolutely no chance of him playing. He rarely saw the field unless its garbage time or a playoff spot is already locked up. Not a bad way to earn a cool $0.6 million dollar salary, if you ask me. He was a physical specimen though and in his first attempt at the NFL broad jump, he cleared 11 feet, a mark which would have placed him among the top 10 among participants at the NFL Combine. He got his chance at last and was signed to the Colts active roster from the practice squad last November, but he had problems containing his own demons when things got tight and it blighted him. The Colts finally got fed up with his off-field activities and waived him, a week after cops were called to investigate possible domestic violence involving him for the second time.

Now, back to the subject at hand. Odhiambo has starter-quality skills, however the Seattle Seahawks have some scary holes to fill on their offensive line.

Real Pokots,

That's not a good ending for someone who with a little bit of discipline could have played for five or six years in the NFL. In today's kinder gentler NFL they take the crime of domestic violence very seriously, and rightfully so, especially after that terrible incident with the Ravens RB a few years ago. Clearly, Adongo should have known better.

On the Seahawks, you're absolutely right -- they need a new and improved OL. Hopefully Odhiambo can stay healthy given his recurring ankle problems.