Kene Orjioke gets football offer from Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech has offered a football scholarship to Kene Orjioke, one of the state’s fastest-rising senior prospects.
Orjioke is relatively unknown among college scouts after transferring from California to the Lassiter High School district over the summer. His mother is a doctor. Orjioke is one of the younger players in the 2012 class, as he turned 16 years old in June.
The 6-foot-4 and 217 pounder plays safety for Lassiter High School, and projects to play outside linebacker in college. Ole Miss was the first offer Orjioke, while Georgia Tech joined the sweepstakes on Monday night.
Orjioke quickly caught the attention of college scouts with his physical style of play in Lassiter’s season-opening win over defending Class AAAAA state champion Brookwood in the Corky Kell Classic in the Georgia Dome.
“Kene obviously wasn’t here in the spring when the colleges stopped by our school,” Orjioke said. “After we played in the Dome, we had somebody put together a video and get it out to the colleges. Georgia Tech [assistant Mike Sewak] knew about Kenny because [Sewak’s son] also plays for us at Lassiter.”
What was Kene’s reaction to the offer? “He was very excited and flattered,” Irwin said. “He called and let me know about it. Everything has happened so fast for him. He’s at a new school with new teammates and got a couple of football offers. In California, he played on offense. We had a need for a safety and he filled it. It’s still hard to believe he’s that big and just turned 16 years old in June.”
Orjioke was born in Nigeria, and has lived in Australia, California and Chicago, among other places. “He has a tremendous upside in football,” Irwin said. “He’s only played one game for us, but he has showed that he loves contact since he began practice with us. He has a nice burst of speed. I know academics are important to him and his family. He’s a great kid from a great family.”
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53 comments Add your comment
Gamecock for life
August 30th, 2011
8:40 am
Wow, Tech offered a kid who has actually played some high school football games.
7576DAWG
August 30th, 2011
8:43 am
This guy will end up a linebacker by the time he get’s in college.
7576DAWG
August 30th, 2011
8:52 am
Grantham needs to keep an eye open for how good Orjioke get’s the next 2 years.
Paul in NH (formerly RDU)
August 30th, 2011
8:57 am
7576DAWG
Orjioke is a senior. If Grantham is going to wait for 2 years before offering him a scholarship he’s probably going to lose him to another school.
gt4ever
August 30th, 2011
8:57 am
Sounds like he needs to play LB in high school….
The Coach
August 30th, 2011
9:10 am
An offer from Georgia won’t be far behind.
Worm
August 30th, 2011
9:28 am
Sounds like a Find..With that frame,DE or OLB is in his future.
1eyedJack
August 30th, 2011
9:29 am
Why do African immigrants finish high school at sixteen years old while African Americans have a hard time finishing at all?
Flintdog
August 30th, 2011
9:54 am
Jack- one word… Culture
GeoffDawg
August 30th, 2011
9:58 am
By his video, should definitely be playing LB. Has good hustle and is a strong tackler. Needs some work in coverage.
North Ave Killer Beez
August 30th, 2011
10:07 am
I will tell you why 1eyedJack. Liberals have taken over and kids don’t get a good azzkickin for skipping or missing school now. No God in schools anymore. Ok ok not the place for this. GOOOOO JACKETS!!! Sheese, is it Thursday yet?
ATL Sports Fan
August 30th, 2011
10:16 am
As a UGA alum, I would love for this kid to get an offer, however you do not just throw scholarships around. I expect Grantham and Coach O to do their due diligence on this kid. Also remember UGA is in the mix for some highly recruited linebackers already.
Tom
August 30th, 2011
10:22 am
He’s a junior. Class of 2013.
AthDawg
August 30th, 2011
10:41 am
Jack, as an African immigrant, and a UGA alumn, I can tell you that if I dared bring home a C in high school, I wouldnt have been able to see the light of day! We cherish the opportunity…..
Luke
August 30th, 2011
10:47 am
Tom, He’s a senior. Class of 2012.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 30th, 2011
11:00 am
Tom, read the article. It says at the top that he’s in the class of 2012
Michael Carvell
August 30th, 2011
11:50 am
Kenny is a senior. There was an article on another website that said he was a junior. But he’s a senior. I think the confusion is because Kenny is a year ahead in school. He just turned 16 in June. Barely 16, and 6-4, 217!
GT Fan
August 30th, 2011
1:03 pm
Wow. This kid seems really talented on the D side of the ball. I’d be thrilled if he came to Tech! Al Groh is putting something really special together for the 2012 class.
Go Jackets!!
Hayseed Dixie
August 30th, 2011
1:06 pm
Most of the immigrants I met at school and in the workforce worked their tails off.
They don’t have a sense of entitlement, and, more importantly, they don’t know what they “can’t” do.
Tech has Francis Kallon from England as a commit, and I’m very excited to see what he’s going to become.
Chokin' Grantham
August 30th, 2011
1:09 pm
He doesn’t fit my scheme:
#1 – He’s only 6-4
#2 – After watching 2 game films he hasn’t danced after someone else made a tackle.
#3 – He has no personal fouls for late hits AFTER 2 GAMES
#4 – He may be smart with a Dr for a mother
#5 – Never heard him use vulgar language
#6 – He may be to big for me to grill
# huh huh, what comes after 6?
Dan H.
August 30th, 2011
1:20 pm
It’s no surprise Al Groh is able to attract such talent. Both he and Nick Saban learned the 3-4 defense from Bill Belichick. Besides that, he has such a good rapport with his players. Al Groh is a class act.
Al Groh Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-WjGROPz24
FG1
August 30th, 2011
1:36 pm
Uga the dumbest fan base on the planet. 6-7 last year. Hey we got a dream team. Oh wait, we are the #2 ranked recruiting school the past decade. We have dream teams every year.
We lose our best offensive and defensive player! We’ll still beat SC and every other sec opponenet. Richt will beat Fla this year, says the redneck from Winder, they are down! Richt is 2-8 against us. God do you losers ever get tired of being wrong and looking like fools?
PR
August 30th, 2011
1:39 pm
FG1… my guess is you’re a GT fan. Do I win a prize?
IL Jacket
August 30th, 2011
1:52 pm
Paul in NH, you OK up there? I know Vermont was devastated by the Irene rainfall. How are things there in NH
Jacket Fan
August 30th, 2011
3:07 pm
Kid looks big, strong and fast. Sounds like he’d be a perfect fit in Al Groh’s 3 – 4 defense. Yes, please!
He's got Brains
August 30th, 2011
4:23 pm
uga can go ahead and back off. His mom’s a doctor so he has to be smart enough NOT to go to georgia.
BigTimeTechFan
August 30th, 2011
4:27 pm
Come to Tech and we can have:
Orjioke by the Coke
Dawg Fan for Life
August 30th, 2011
4:49 pm
You Tech fans crack me up getting so excited about this kid. Look at the film. He’s not initiating the tackles himself. The play is coming to him and he happens to be in the right spot. Oh well, if he’s the best you can do at GT then we won’t ever have to worry about getting beat by the Jackets.
Go Dawgs!!
Worm
August 30th, 2011
5:21 pm
Ken, chokinGrantham doesn’t seem to be in line with your new policy, which I admire-BTW..
Ramblin Man
August 30th, 2011
5:21 pm
Dawg Fan for Life,
You do know you were watching for #8 right? The kid looks good for a first year starter at safety after moving from offense and as stated he looks to be a LB in college not a safety. The kid looks like a good canidate for the 3-4 going by his current size and willingness to hit. GT might get a sleeper if he commits either way good luck to the kid he seems headed in a good direction so far.
Worm
August 30th, 2011
5:22 pm
whoops, wrong blog!
Rocket City Jacket
August 30th, 2011
5:27 pm
Dawg Fan, rewatch the film. He is initiating contact. He is chasing down the play and what he is NOT doing is over-pursuing. That is why it seems like “he happens to be in the right spot.” You can see him changing his direction to match where the ball is going and not just sitting there waiting for the player to be in his vicinity.
It’s only a handful of plays, but it looks like he brings the wood too.
Moobs Johnson
August 30th, 2011
5:44 pm
Potential is just another word for not having done anything yet.
hahaha hohoho hehehehe
August 30th, 2011
6:02 pm
a dawg asks a poster named FG1 if he is a jacket?
than again nothing sunrises me about a dawg
potential.....
August 30th, 2011
6:03 pm
hey moobs
you mean kinda like dream team 1 and dream team 2 and dream team… oh nevermind you get the idea
Frankly
August 30th, 2011
6:10 pm
Go Western Carolina. You can beat those silly gnats.
Blah
August 30th, 2011
7:32 pm
Those who talk down on this kid don’t play football, how can you judge? by watching? keep your ill opinions to yourselves.
Dawg 101
August 30th, 2011
9:09 pm
Charlie Heg is the most underrated receiver in the NATION. I’ve seen this kid play and he’s a stud how does he not have any SEC offers yet?
Dawg 101
August 30th, 2011
9:10 pm
Enter your comments here
Dawg Watcher
August 31st, 2011
6:46 am
@ Dawg 101 I guess you missed Charlie Heg drop in the Kell Classic. Not impressed at all.
Rick S.
August 31st, 2011
8:55 am
Kenny, hope to see you select Tech so the Lassiter family can continue to come see you play and cheer for you!
Moobs Johnson
August 31st, 2011
9:04 am
Can’t spell a GT recruits name without J-O-K-E
St Rickster
August 31st, 2011
10:31 am
Oh my, I have lost my Rogane, hair bleach and spray on tan….
MLK FAN
August 31st, 2011
1:21 pm
If the offer this kid they should offer Jarnar Jones from MLK 6′4 190 4.48 is the best FS in Atlanta
Spike 80DF
August 31st, 2011
2:06 pm
getting beat on pass plays and my favorite is the push once the guy is out of bounds already….9 of the past 10 but i’m sure GT will be much improved this year right?
GAdawg
August 31st, 2011
3:00 pm
why yall gotta hate on Heg. Those drops happen to the best. Watch his game against flowery branch the week before. Had like 4 catches for 140 yards
Kene Orjioke
August 31st, 2011
8:28 pm
Charlie is the best reciever in Georgia, hands down. i practice w/him everyday. I’ve seen Cj Curry play, i’ve seen Bryce Treggs play, I played against both of them and now to take anything away from them but Charlie is hands down better than both. He will be great when he gets to College, no doubt in my mind.
Kene Orjioke
August 31st, 2011
8:31 pm
Oh and thanks Moobs, really wish i could see you play high school football.
Rodney Dangerfield
August 31st, 2011
10:01 pm
Kid looks pretty good for a 6′4 safety. Pretty quick for a tall guy out in the open. He doesn’t over persue on the plays I watched on the video. But it did look like he pushed a kid that was out of bounds. Got to like that in a kid, doesn’t quit.
You better run out of bounds on me, biotch!
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[...] Kenny Orjioke, an under the radar player, picked up his first offer from Georgia [...]
Nate
October 7th, 2011
11:47 pm
This kid was in my social studies class in 6th grade! Man he is a beast now. Long ways away from Oak Park too.