The Michigan Panthers continue to sign their USFL college draft picks. OT Chim Okorafor has officially joined the organization, as the sixth draft pick to sign with the team.
Make that SIX draftees signing to the @USFLPanthers.
The Panthers are obviously looking to bolster their OL, heading into 2024. This time, they add 2023 9th Rd draft pick Chim Okorafor from Benedictine.
Welcome to Michigan, Chim!#USFL #LetsHunt pic.twitter.com/oRfOubmvJd
— Panthers Shadow (@USFLShadow) September 26, 2023
This is excellent news for the Panthers offensive line – one who just recently signed #1 overall pick OT Jarrett Horst.
Chim Okorafor brings plenty of experience to the table for Michigan. Interestingly enough, he originally played college basketball, but transitioned to football after a couple of years.
Okorafor had stints with Riverside, Missouri Southern State University, and Pittsburgh State, before transferring to Benedictine. At Benedictine, he was excellent, earning himself an NAIA All-America selection during the 2022 season.
Since then, Chim has garnered some NFL interest. He spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles this past spring in rookie mini camp. Benedictine’s head coach, Joel Osborn, had this to say about Chim:
“When I went to his Pro Day, I could see that he had the size and athleticism the NFL Scouts are looking for. He did a very nice job in the drill work and was very coachable.”
Now, Chim Okorafor will look to kickstart his professional career in the USFL, with the Michigan Panthers.
Final Thoughts
General Manager Steve Kazor has been very aggressive in signing college draft picks. Including Chim, the team has signed six of them:
TE Gunnar Oakes
OT Jarrett Horst
OT Chim Okorafor
DE Levi Bell
LB DaShaun White
LB Santrell Latham
Bell and Latham have since been released, with Bell earning a spot on the Seattle Seahawks practice squad.
It’s excellent to see the USFL College Draft playing such a major role in the structure of the league. With more and more draft picks being signed as of late, it goes to show that this draft can provide professional athletes with golden opportunities.
What are your thoughts on the Michigan Panthers signing Chim Okorafor? Which USFL prospect should they pursue next? Let us know down in the comments below, or join the conversation on Discord!
