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CB Chimdi Chekwa (Official Thread)

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Chekwa, a cornerback, was taken as the 113th overall pick by the Oakland Raiders after five years at Ohio State, which included a red-shirt season.

"People didn't think he could play out of high school, either, but you see what he did in becoming an all-American at Ohio State," O'Hara said. "He only had one offer and that school backed off. But it just so happened that he was playing in an all-star game and a coach from Ohio State saw him in practice, saw him run, saw him break on the ball and he immediately called his head coach (Jim Tressel)."

He's always been fast, and the Raiders were looking specifically for fast corners in this draft. Chekwa showed his speed at the NFL Combine, running one of the fastest times in pre-draft testing with a 40-yard-dash time of 4.38 seconds.

Oakland also drafted Miami corner DeMarcus Van Dyke, from Miami Monsignor Pace, on Friday night, one round prior to landing Chekwa in Saturday's fourth round.

"He's just got so much character it's unbelievable. His faith is strong. He's a strong-willed kid," O'Hara said of Chekwa. "He never played football before he got to us, but he worked hard and deserves everything he's gotten. He came in as a sophomore, if I remember right, and moved up to varsity at some point during the season."

O'Hara actually got a call into his former star right after he was selected.

"I got to share five or 10 seconds with him and got to tell him how much he means to me and what a reflection it is for our school," O'Hara said. "He's a great kid, so unselfish. Every time he comes back here, he always talks to our kids."
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http://www.orlandosentinel.com/spor...chekwa-lloyd-drafted-04302011,0,5860916.story

NFL draft: Phones finally ring for four Buckeyes
Chekwa among those taken on final day
Sunday, May 1, 2011
By Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

It was a busy day for Chimdi Chekwa and his family, and that was before he received a call from an NFL team.

The family was in Starkville, Miss., yesterday to watch Chimdi's older sister Blessing graduate from Mississippi State. In the midst of it all, he finally got that call, from the Oakland Raiders, who had taken the former Ohio State cornerback in the fourth round of the NFL draft with the 113th overall pick.

"It was tough because I did think I'd go a little earlier," Chekwa said. "I had to wait another night. But I had my family with me, so it wasn't as bad as it seems."

If Chekwa had gone in the third round, as some had projected, he would have been picked on Friday night. Instead, he had to wait until rounds four through seven were conducted.

No Buckeyes players were picked in the second or third rounds after defensive lineman Cameron Heyward went to the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 31st overall pick on Thursday. The calls finally came for Chekwa and three others yesterday: safety Jermale Hines, to St. Louis in the fifth round (158th overall); linebacker Brian Rolle, to Philadelphia in the sixth (193rd); and linebacker Ross Homan, to Minnesota in the sixth (200th).

"The process is difficult; it is something you have no control over," Chekwa said. "You're waiting by the phone, but you don't know when it's going to ring. At that point you can't do anything to help your chances. You just have to wait. It's in the control of someone else."
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Chekwa is looking forward to joining the Raiders, too, whenever the lockout ends. It wasn't as if they were constant callers during the months leading up to the draft.

"There's a lot of teams that showed interest; I met with (the Raiders) at the combine," Chekwa said. "But you never know who is really going to pick you until you get that call."
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http://www.dispatch.com/live/conten...s-finally-ring-for-four-buckeyes.html?sid=101
 
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Bryan: Talking about speed, Coach. How about DeMarcus Van Dyke out of Miami, the third round pick? And then you come back with a guy in the fourth round that I love, Chimdi Chekwa out of Ohio State. He was a guy that if he doesn?t hurt his wrist in that bowl game he?s probably going a lot higher than the fourth round. How about the secondary now? How it stacks up? Maybe losing Nnamdi but you get a Chimdi?

Coach Jackson: Oh boy, obviously we got two very young, talented players, we believe, in this draft. DeMarcus Van Dyke obviously was the fastest young man at the combine and people believe that?s why we took him. That?s not the reason why we took him. We took him because I sent Rod Woodson down to University of Miami to work this young man out. The speed at the combine got our attention, watching video got our attention, but Rod went down and came back and said, ?Hue, this guy can do it.? He said, ?This guy has the hips, he has the feet, he has the wherewithal, and he has the smarts to go with cover receivers, and he understands the game.? So I?m taking this advice from a Hall of Famer, somebody who has done it in this league at a very high level, who told me without a shadow of a doubt that this young man can get it done. I believe in our coaches and so that is the decision we made. I know people think we made it for other reasons, it just happens that this guy can run in the 4.2s. So it added up for us and we think we?re getting a tremendous player and the thing I like about him is that he?s feisty. I mean, this guy will stick his body in there. He?s not afraid to tackle. He played on special teams and made numerous plays. I?m very excited about him, what he?ll bring to the table. Then you mentioned Chimdi from Ohio State. I mean, obviously he had the wrist problem and that?s probably the reason he didn?t get drafted as high, but he?s a big, athletic guy who can run, run in the 4.3s. He?s very physical, loves to play man coverage, loves to put his hands on you and that?s the way we play. We?re going to line up and challenge every receiver in the National Football League because that?s what we love to do. We?ve got two young players that are going to give us an opportunity to do that.
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http://www.raiders.com/news/article...XM-Radio/0934da7d-6c81-465f-bddb-cee66f51241e
 
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Originally Published: May 4, 2011
Early-impact players, Rounds 4-7
By Mel Kiper
ESPN Insider

Chimdi Chekwa, CB, Oakland Raiders (Round 4, No. 16)

The impact: Chekwa is a solid, physical corner and -- fittingly -- flashed a surprising amount of athleticism at the combine, something the Raiders surely took notice of before they picked him in Round 4. With Nnamdi Asomugha gone next year, Chekwa could fight for immediate playing time.

The hurdle: He'll have to beat out another rookie, Demarcus Van Dyke, who was taken in Round 3.
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http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2011/insider/news/story?id=6478052
 
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A Better Chekwa Self May Wreck Raiders? Rivals
By Abe Brown
FNN Staff Writer
May 8, 2011

When the Oakland Raiders selected Ohio State defensive back Chimdi Chekwa in the fourth-round of the draft, they knew they were getting an athletic cornerback. But if you ask his Orlando, Florida high school coach, Bud O?Hara, they?re getting so much more.

?He?s just got so much character it?s unbelievable. His faith is strong. He?s a strong-willed kid,? O?Hara said of Chekwa. ?He never played football before he got to us, but he worked hard and deserves everything he?s gotten.?

In a division that boasts two Pro Bowl wide receivers in Kansas City Chiefs? Dwayne Bowe and Denver Broncos? Brandon Lloyd, re-signing Pro Bowl CB Nnamdi Asomugha is a priority. And although a lot of post-draft chatter has focused on the Raiders taking Miami speedster DeMarcus Van Dyke as a backup plan if Asomugha leaves, O?Hara says it?s not the first time Chekwa has been overlooked.

?People didn?t think he could play out of high school, either, but you see what he did in becoming an all-American at Ohio State,? O?Hara said. ?He only had one offer and that school backed off. But it just so happened that he was playing in an all-star game and a coach from Ohio State saw him in practice, saw him run, saw him break on the ball and he immediately called his head coach (Jim Tressel).?

Even though Van Dyke ran a 4.28 ? 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, Chekwa?s not exactly carrying a piano on his back, as he was clocked at 4.38 seconds. The advantage that Chekwa may have is he has a more physical style then Van Dyke and outstanding closing speed when the ball is in the air. Some think he?s a better zone coverage corner, but with DB coach Rod Woodson saying CB?s may play more facing the ball this year to help the run defense, Chekwa may just be the man for the Silver and Black.
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http://www.footballnewsnow.com/2011/a-better-chekwa-self-may-wreck-raiders-rivals/#.TcfHSOAwX1c
 
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Oakland Raiders' Draft Pick Chimdi Chekwa on Stefen Wisniewski, Jim Tressel, His First Contract and More
Adrock_tiny by noontide on May 12, 2011

COLUMBUS OH - OCTOBER 23: Chimdi Chekwa #5 of the Ohio State Buckeyes breaks up a pass intended for O.J. Ross #4 of the Purdue Boilermakers at Ohio Stadium on October 23 2010 in Columbus Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

This is the second and final part of my interview with former Ohio State player and Oakland Raiders' fourth round 2011 NFL Draft selection, Chimdi Chekwa. You can find the first installment here. In the second half we get more into his expectations, a few things about the controversy surrounding Ohio State and Jim Tressel, his dominance over Stefen Wisniewski in college, and other things you will find out for yourselves after the jump....

Star-divide

It is a bit of bad timing that you are coming into the league during a lockout, and you have to wait to start playing and get that first contract. Is the lockout something you are following?

Chekwa: I'm following. I want to get a sense for what's going on and what are the issues and familiarize myself with. You know, I am not too concerned with it. A lot of people are concerned; I am not really concerned. I am just going to try and keep getting better, and once the lockout ends I'll be ready to play football.

Yeah, I am sure you are excited to get your career started and also get that first contract signed. Have you given any thought to what the first thing you'll buy when you sign that contract?

Chekwa: I have. I don't think anything big at all. I don't think I've done anything to reward myself yet. Other than take care of my parents and make sure everything is smooth with what they are trying to do, and from there I am just going to try and get on that 60 man roster and compete for a spot this year. And then if I can do that then I can reward myself with something.

Sounds good to me. Okay, now if I have this right after the Combine you didn't have any workouts or visits with the Raiders, but you just spoke with them at the combine, right?

Chekwa: Yes.

Who did you speak with from the Raiders?

Chekwa: Everybody. Mostly coach Woodson. And then we had a formal meeting, a 60-minute meeting, at the combine, and just about everybody is in the room.

Is that a nerve wracking interview, or are you pretty relaxed in those settings?

Cont...
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http://www.silverandblackpride.com/...rs-draft-pick-chimdi-chekwa-stefen-wisniewski

Oakland Raiders' Draft Pick Chimdi Chekwa on His Injury, Player Workouts and More
Adrock_tiny by noontide on May 12, 2011

Ohio State cornerback Chimdi Chekwa (5) makes an interception in the end zone in front of Purdue wide receiver Keith Smith (8) during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009. Also covering on play is cornerback Kurt Coleman (4) and defensive back Jermale Hines (7). (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

I had the opportunity to sit down for a phone interview with former Ohio State Buckeye and the Oakland Raiders fourth round selection of the 2011 NFL Draft, Chimdi Chekwa. We talked about the wrist injury he suffered in the Sugar Bowl, sliding in the draft, Stefen Wisniewski, Al Davis, Jim Tressel and more. He was very generous with his time, respectful and gave thoughtful answers. I am going to post this in two parts as it was a fairly long interview.

Thanks to everyone who gave me interview questions yesterdays, and I should just apologize now for not asking them as y'all wrote them, but once I started talking I kind of abandoned the script and just talked. Don't be too hard on me as this is my first interview. Check out the transcript after the jump....

Star-divide

How's your wrist?

Chekwa: It's good. I've been rehabbing. It's not quite where it was before the injury. It's still a little tight. So, I've been working on loosening it up a little bit.

It was a dislocation and not a fracture right?

Chekwa: Yes, it was a dislocation, and I tore ligaments in my wrist. I had surgery to get screws put in there to hold it all together and let the ligaments heal and then get the screws taken out.

So, is that something that leaves you more vulnerable to a recurring injury or not?

Chekwa: No, I think it actually helps it out, and keeps it from recurring. The wrist is so much more packed in now; it's so much more tighter, which is why I am going to rehab to loosen it up a little bit more so I can get more range of motion. So, yeah the likelihood of it recurring is very low.

Cont...
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http://www.silverandblackpride.com/2011/5/12/2168017/oakland-raiders-draft-pick-chimdi-chekwa
Oakland Raiders Draft Pick Chimdi Chekwa Goes Under the Spotlight
Adrock_tiny by noontide on May 10, 2011

Chimdi Chekwa slides under the spotlight as we continue getting to know the Oakland Raiders 2011 NFL Draft picks. In case you missed them, and you care, you can find Joseph Barksdale's here and DeMarcus Van Dyke's here. I started off with Barksdale and Van Dyke, because they are the two I had the most questions about and two players whose success is really going to define this draft class. Looking back on that maybe it was a mistake. The information on the rest is a little more vanilla.

I contemplated stopping, before realizing that would be foolish. And if you think I should stop I will tell you the same thing I told myself: chimidi chek wa-self before ya wrek wa-self. So jump over....

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One of the first thing that stands out about Chekwa is that he is by all accounts a hard-working and high-character young man, and this is a trait that has been apparent his entire career. Here is his high school football coach, Bud O'Hara in an article by Abe Brown of Football News Now:

He?s just got so much character it?s unbelievable. His faith is strong. He?s a strong-willed kid. He never played football before he got to us, but he worked hard and deserves everything he?s gotten.
Cont...
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http://www.silverandblackpride.com/...t-pick-chimdi-chekwa-goes-under-the-spotlight
 
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Mikey from Oakland wants to know if I think Oakland fourth-round pick Chimdi Chekwa could make a difference at cornerback as a rookie.

BW: If Nnamdi Asomugha leaves as a free agent, Chekwa will get a chance to be a rotational player at the very least. If he has a good training camp and preseason, he could vie to be a starter. Third-round pick DeMarcus Van Dyke will also get a chance to play. However, Chewka, an Ohio State product, could have the edge for immediate playing time because he got great experience in the Big Ten.
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http://espn.go.com/blog/afcwest/post/_/id/27211/afc-west-mailbag-225
 
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