Latest news with #NnamdiMadubuike
USA Today
08-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL execs rank Nnamdi Madubuike among the league's top defensive tackles
The hard work continues to pay off for Nnamdi Madubuike. There aren't many organizations where the 'face of the franchise' is a guy who plays on defense, but the Baltimore Ravens were certainly in that category. We all understand why. Seventeen years of sustained excellence by Ray Lewis certainly left its mark on the franchise, as did the 11 years he shared on the field with Ed Reed. Lewis and Reed left the organization after the Super Bowl-winning 2012-13 NFL season. A half-dozen off-seasons followed, and we were introduced to Lamar Jackson. He's undoubtedly the face of the franchise, but Baltimore's fans never lost their appetite for defense. Recently, one of their young stars earned a mention following a poll taken among NFL front-office executives. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler recently crafted a defensive tackle ranking; one pieced together with the help of executives, coaches, and scouts. Nnamdi Madubuike found his way into the top ten, landing at number seven. "(He's still a quality player, but he wasn't as dominant as the (2023 sack numbers) suggested. I think the defensive coordinator change was significant in creating one-on-one opportunities... He still has elite burst and explosion." Those were the words of an unnamed AFC executive. One can't help but wonder if he's employed by one of the Ravens' rivals in the AFC North. We'll never know the answer to that. Here's what we do know. Fowler's analysis hits the nail on the head. "Multiple evaluators noted that Macdonald, the Ravens' coordinator in 2022 and 2023, was skilled at positioning Madubuike for success on obvious passing downs. The Ravens transitioned from Macdonald to Zach Orr last year, and the secondary struggled mightily in the first half of the season. That can affect a pass rush." Despite the transition, Madubuike chipped in with 43 tackles and 6.5 sacks. Those were the second-highest totals of his career in both categories. He also found his way onto another Pro Bowl roster. That was the second consecutive year that he had earned that honor. In 2023, he earned Second-Team All-Pro honors, albeit under the watchful eye of the aforementioned Mike Macdonald. He has the skill to reach that level of recognition again. Hopefully, Zach Orr has the necessary ingredients to unlock Madubuike's full potential. Everyone expects fireworks from the Ravens' offense, but young stars like this one can bring some sizzle on the other side of the ball.
USA Today
21-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ravens stars host second annual youth football camp in Nigeria
Odafe Oweh and Nnamdi Madubuike are growing the great game of football by hosting a football camp in Lagos. As easy as it is to love the NBA and Major League Baseball, there's just something about the NFL and this beautiful game of American football. It's our game. These are our Baltimore Ravens, but over the years, there has been an obvious attempt to expand the National Football League's viewing audience. NFL games have been played in London, Mexico, Germany, Brazil, Dublin, and Melbourne. Hopefully, games will be played in Africa at some point. Where would this game be without the contributions of both stars and legends who hailed from the Mother Continent or were of African descent? There are too many to name, but guys like Christian Okoye, Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah, Emmanuel Ogbah, and Tamba Hali come to mind. So do Ravens stars Odafe Oweh and Nnamdi Madubuike. The latter two have joined forces to help grow the game and maybe mentor some of its future stars. Odafe Oweh and Nnamdi Madubuike host a youth football camp in Lagos OTAs and Ravens mandatory minicamp are in our rearview mirror. The guys are taking a break before they tackle training camp. Oweh and Madubuike headed to Lagos, where they are hosting a second annual youth football camp. There are so many great things that can be said about this, but perhaps the best compliment that Oweh and Madubuike can be given is a 'thank you'. This is awesome and should be celebrated. Most of us found success because someone believed in us. Someone invested a little extra time, and that made a world of difference. That's what two great Ravens are doing. Here's a tip of the cap. Maybe there isn't another Odafe Oweh or Nnamdi Madubuike in the bunch, but there might be. There might also be some future doctors or lawyers. Whatever they choose to do in life, something can be guaranteed. Some of the kids in this mixture will one day credit this for helping them find their confidence. That should put a smile on all of our faces.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Where does the Baltimore Ravens' defensive "triplets" rank among the best units in the NFL?
Where does the Baltimore Ravens' defensive "triplets" rank among the best units in the NFL? originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The term "triplets" usually refers to a teams' trio of offensive stars at quarterback, running back and wide receiver, but it can also be applied to the defensive side of the ball. Advertisement A defensive trio - with a lineman, linebacker and defensive back - may be even harder to keep in tact from year to year. Teams who can retain star players, especially those on all three levels of the defense, are best equipped for success. In Sports Illustrated's latest ranking of these triplets around the league, the Baltimore Ravens earned as much praise as any for their core of stars. Baltimore is ranked having the second-best defensive trio with lineman Nnamdi Madubuike, linebacker Roquan Smith and safety Kyle Hamilton leading the Ravens flock. They were second only to the Philadelphia Eagles tandem of Jalen Carter, Zack Baun and Quinyon Mitchell. Advertisement "Smith and Hamilton remain two of the best at their respective positions," writer Gilberto Manzano said. "Madubuike dropped off a bit from his breakout 2023 season, but his presence in the middle of the defensive line provided favorable matchups for his teammates. All three were named to the Pro Bowl last year, with Smith and Hamilton making All-Pro teams." Madubuike, a former third-round pick in 2020, is coming off back-to-back Pro Bowl nods despite that aforementioned dip in production from his Second Team All-Pro selection. Regardless, the last two seasons have seen Madubuike come into his own as a foundational piece on the Baltimore D-line. Last season, he finished with 6.5 sacks (half as much as 2023), 43 tackles and one forced fumble. Smith is entering his fourth year with the Ravens and has continued to be one of the NFL's best linebackers this deep into his career. The seven-year vet is on a streak of two consecutive First Team All-Pro honors. Advertisement In 2024, Roquan led the Ravens in tackles with 154. He also added one forced fumble, fumble recovery, interception and four pass deflections. Hamilton, much earlier in his career, has also turned into a perennial All-Pro. A recent article puts him atop the safeties ranking in the NFL after just his third year in the league. The Notre Dame product finished with less interceptions and sacks than his 2023 year, but he played all 17 games for the first time in his career, helping set a career high with 107 tackles. As a whole, Baltimore wasn't as productive defensively as its stellar 2023 season, but with these three anchoring the group on all levels, the Ravens are poised to control the AFC North for years to come. Advertisement Related: Ravens CB Makes Double-Digit Prediction for Sophomore Season Related: Ravens' Linebacker Position One to Watch in 2025 This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
31-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Texas A&M DL had the highest tackling grade for his position per PFF rankings
Former Texas A&M DL had the highest tackling grade for his position per PFF rankings Texas A&M has put a handful of defensive players in the NFL that have been making a major impact for their respective teams. The recent names that jump out are future Hall of Famer Myles Garrett, All-Pro Nnamdi Madubuike, and rookie standout Edgerrin Cooper. However, another solid defensive lineman has been floating under the radar for a few years. 2021 fourth-round pick Bobby Brown III spent his first two years in the NFL as a reserve interior defensive lineman for the Los Angeles Rams. Through those first two seasons, he played in 19 games starting one only logging nine tackles and TFL playing behind Aaron Donald. In 2023, he cracked the starting lineup, and his production increased dramatically with 31 tackles and recording his first NFL sack. In 2024, he increased his tackles to 44 and had 4 TFL's not letting anyone away from his grasp once he got his hands on them. Brown graded out as the No. 1 interior defensive lineman when it came to the highest tackling grade according to PFF. He finished the 2024 season with a grade of 80.1 in that category and is getting better each season. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.
