Okuayinonu’s hellacious motor creates perfect 49ers D-line marriage originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SANTA CLARA — Sam Okuayinonu had the game of his NFL career on Sunday, but when given an opportunity to relish in the spotlight, the veteran defensive lineman immediately highlighted his teammates’ efforts rather than soak in the glory of his outstanding individual performance.
“It feels good, man. It feels good,” Okuayinonu told NBC Sports Bay Area after the 49ers’ 30-13 win over the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium. “I don’t just feel good with myself, I feel good about the whole D-line. I love how we came out there to play. I feel like we were thrashing, flying around having fun. Seeing guys on the sideline, just excited … it felt great.”
Okuayinonu wasted no time making an impact after being promoted to San Francisco’s active roster over the weekend, forcing a fumble on the first play of New England’s second drive, seizing early momentum and setting the tone for what would be a dominant display from the 49ers’ defensive front.
Okuayinonu quickly is earning goodwill amongst the 49ers’ fanbase due to his hellacious motor, but San Francisco’s brass long has been impressed with the consistent effort the 26-year-old made behind the scenes before his promotion from the 49ers’ practice squad.
For Okuayinonu, it doesn’t matter if it’s scout team work or chasing quarterbacks around in front of 70,000 screaming fans — he approaches every play as if it’s his last.
“Man, honestly, when I come to practice — you can ask anybody about Sam O — I come to work,” Okuayinonu said. “Even giving looks on the scout team, on offense they be mad at me, like, ‘slow down,’ but that’s just how I approach the game. I approach every game, every practice, every snap with the mindset of it might be my last, so I try to go as hard as I can. And lineup and do it all over again.”
Okuayinonu’s relentless mindset is beyond impressive — it’s inspirational, as his journey to the…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/okuayinonus-hellacious-motor-creates-perfect-043625950.html
Author : NBC Sports BayArea
Publish date : 2024-09-30 04:36:25
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
