Report: Isaac Ukwu to sign with Detroit Lions as undrafted free agent

NCAA Football: Louisiana State at Mississippi — Sep 30, 2023; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels defensive linemen Isaac Ukwu (99) shoves LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) out of bounds during the second half at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Ole Miss defensive end Isaac Ukwu has officially found an NFL home after not being selected in the 2024 NFL Draft.

According to NFL insider Mike Garafolo, Ukwu’s long and winding collegiate career has led to a spot with the Detroit Lions. Here was Garafolo’s tweet with the news:

“Ole Miss DE Isaac Ukwu has agreed to terms on a deal with the #Lions as an undrafted free agent.”

Ukwu originally came into college unranked in the 2017 recruiting class after playing high school ball at Dr. Henry Wise in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. He committed to play at nearby James Madison and redshirted the ’17 season. In ’18, he appeared in just three games.

But 2019 and 2020 were even less kind to Ukwu and he missed both seasons due to various knee injuries, thus playing just three total games in his first four years at JMU. Of course, redshirt, medical redshirt and COVID years allowed him a fresh start in 2021 and Ukwu played terrific, starting all 14 games for the Dukes while earning Second Team All-CAA defensive lineman.

In 2022 James Madison upgraded to Div. I and Ukwu only elevated his play. He started 11 games and totaled 40 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. That production drew eyes from an SEC school like Ole Miss, and Ukwu transferred there for his final season.

In 2023, Ukwu was part of a solid Rebel defense, scoring 30 tackles and 3.5 sacks on the season before celebrating his 25th birthday shortly after the Ole Miss bowl game. Now, he’ll get a shot in the pros after a long and winding collegiate career that started in D-II with three total games in four years, and ended in a year with a top-15 team and a spot on an NFL roster.

As for other Rebels, Deantre Prince, Cedric Johnson and Daijahn Anthony were all taken on Saturday, becoming the latest Ole Miss players to get their shot of playing football on Sundays.

The first bit of good news came for Prince, who became the first Ole Miss player taken off the board. The Jacksonville Jaguars selected the cornerback in the fifth round as the 154th overall pick.

Being projected as a potential late third round to early fourth round pick, Johnson did not go off the board until the sixth round. The Cincinnati Bengals drafted him as the 214th overall pick. There will be familiar teammates sharing the orange and black as Anthony was also taken by the Bengals. He went in the seventh round as the 224th overall pick.