'I Am a Bad Dude': Okudah’s Attitude Impresses Detroit Lions Coach

Jeff Okudah's first week of training camp has impressed Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell.

During the first week of Detroit Lions training camp, cornerback Jeff Okudah has looked like a different player. 

The No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft is seeking to rebound from a shaky rookie season. 

“Okudah, I think he’s really starting to come on,” Campbell said Thursday at his pre-practice media session. “He’s playing like, ‘Alright man, I am a bad dude. And I dare you to throw it over here’ -- which is what we want.”

Out on the field, Okudah is playing with confidence and is challenging the wideouts he is assigned to. 

At Wednesday's practice, Okudah forced wideout Victor Bolden into an offensive pass interference penalty after displaying solid route recognition and sticking to Bolden like a glove. 

One of Okudah's teammates has also noted that the second-year defensive back looks like a different NFL player. 

“He looks like a totally different player,” cornerback Amani Oruwariye told reporters on Monday.

“Mentally, physically he’s just attacking it. Clear mind, clear heart. And I’m loving it," Oruwariye said. “He asks questions. You can tell he’s just in a different frame of mode when it comes to studying film and everything. Night and day.”

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John Maakaron
JOHN MAAKARON

John Maakaron has covered Detroit Sports since 2013. Brings a vast array of experience covering the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans, Detroit Mercy Titans, and Oakland University Golden Grizzlies. John brings a wealth of sports broadcast experience. In 2013, John had the vision to establish the Detroit Sports Podcast Network. Has recorded over 3000 podcasts analyzing Detroit Sports. In 2019, Sports Illustrated Media Group, a historical sports media outlet, partnered with Detroit Sports Podcast to provide daily Lions content for their growing and expanding digital media outlet. Our Lions content can also be read in the newspaper at The Oakland  Passionate about Detroit Sports and it is reflected in his coverage of the local teams!