Hallelujah Ozougwu

Cheta Ozougwu said he spent a lot of time praying during the 2011 NFL Draft. A devout Christian, the 22-year-old said he believed God's will would be done. Ozougwu, a 6-foot-2, 247-pound defensive end out of Rice University, believed he would be picked.

If anyone tries to tease him now, he can use a bible verse for where he was taken as the Houston Texans made him the 254th and dead last pick in the draft.

A part of Mark 10:31 reads, "The last will be first."

"I like that," Ozougwu said with a laugh.

Ozougwu (pronounced oh-zoo-goo), who pronounces his first name "Cheddah," became Mr. Irrelevant XXXVI Saturday when Irrelevant Week Founder Paul Salata announced his name at the podium at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

The newest Mr. Irrelevant said it was fulfilling to be picked and that he doesn't mind having the new nickname. He's also excited to stay in Houston, where he was born and raised.

"I'm happy to have [the Mr. Irrelevant nickname]," said Ozougwu, who will be honored and roasted during Irrelevant Week in Newport Beach and other parts of Orange County June 20-24. "It's by no means anything negative. A lot of people would want to be in this situation. I'm very fortunate to be in this situation. I'm embracing it."

Ozougwu's first full name is Chetachi. It's a Nigerian name, which means, "remember God." He's never forgotten the man upstairs throughout his life. Ozougwu said he's been a Christian all is life and that he rededicated his faith three years ago.

While he's been learning the game of football, he's also been teaching others about his religion. He can relate to the concept of Irrelevant Week, which is, "doing something nice for someone for no reason."

Ozougwu was one of 12 student-athletes who received the Conference USA Fall Spirit of Service award for his work in the community.

Among his efforts, Ozougwu was a mentor at Good Hope Baptist Church.

"I'm really big on giving back, working with kids and helping others who are not as fortunate as I am," Ozougwu said during a telephone interview shortly after becoming Mr. Irrelevant. "I had an amazing opportunity to work with the church and help kids who came from rough backgrounds. It was just great to put a smile on their face and to tell them about Jesus. Whatever I can do to give back."

Ozougwu can be thankful he was drafted Saturday. There are no undrafted free agents because of the NFL lockout. If the ongoing dispute between the owners and the players ends, teams can acquire undrafted free agents.

But Ozougwu is just grateful to have a team now and he said he plans to make the most of his opportunity. He's been opportunistic before.

Ozougwu played just two years of football before earning a scholarship at Rice. He had played basketball before becoming a safety on the Alief Taylor High football team in suburban southwest Houston.

"He came in very, very raw," said Chuck Dreisbach, Rice's defensive coordinator. "He had to learn by osmosis. He didn't understand the work ethic it would take at first but he started to get into it. In his junior and senior years he was a great leader."

Ozougwu picked up the game quick in his freshman year. He became a starter by his fifth game. In his senior year, he received added pressure when preseason All-CUSA pick and fellow defensive end Scott Solomon was lost for the season because of a hand injury, Dreisbach said.

Ozougwu said he didn't have the year he had expected, but he still earned first-team All-CUSA honors after recording 54 tackles and three sacks. He had three forced fumbles. He was also the co-winner of the George Martin Award as Rice's MVP.

In his junior season, he set career-highs for tackles (61), tackles for loss (10.5) and sacks (4.5). He ranked second among CUSA defensive linemen with the 61 tackles.

"Like most of the Rice guys, just getting his foot into someone's camp he now has a great chance to make it," Dreisbach said. "He's going to work as hard as anyone. He's smarter than all the coaches here. He has tremendous character. All of those things you want in a player, above and beyond, he can be checked in for all the boxes."