How Strong and Physical Can You Be? New Pokes Commit Armstrong Nnodim is Both

STILLWATER – This didn’t take long, but give Mesquite Horn High School defensive lineman Armstrong Nnodim points for doing it right. Nnodim, who really showed out at the Oklahoma State Down and Dirty Linemen Camp and had Cowboy coaches from coordinator Bryan Nardo to defensive line coach Greg Richmnd really pumped up, had some navigation to do. The 6-2, 260-pound Nnodim had committed early to Rice. He is a young man that comes from a family that puts an emphasis on academics and he wants to get that education.

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Nnodim at work in the Down and Dirty Camp.

“I’m just looking for opportunity,” Nnodim told me after his display at the Down and Dirty Camp. “Academically, I’m interested in software engineering.”

After his visit, he wanted to do this right, so he first de-committed from Rice. He waited several days and now he is committing to Oklahoma State.

Bryan Nardo and his defensive staff have worked very hard the past few weeks on Nnodim. They realized the potential of what he can be. Texas Football recruiting editor Greg Powers has realized that for awhile and felt the Owls hit a dynamo when he committed to them early.

“When he committed to Rice and I reached out to some of my contacts there and told them, ‘you guys got a steal,’” Powers said addint hat he sees this as a good sign for the Cowboys. “His recruitment has been fine but it hasn’t hit the warp speed that I thought it would. He can do so many things for his high school team. He can play defensive end, defensive tackle, and he could even stand up at linebacker. He is as impressive a player as you will see, 455-pounds bench press. 455-pounds, This dude is an absolute monster. I think his squat was 675-pounds and both of those are school records at Mesquite Horn.”

Wow strength numbers off the chart. Less than two weeks after his dominant showing at the Cowboys camp, he’s had an official visit and he has pledged to OSU.

During his junior season, Nnodim racked up 69 total tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, a whopping 16 sacks and and 24 quarterback hurries, two interceptions and a blocked field goal.

Robert Allen - Pokes Report

Armstrong Nnodim

Following the season, Nnodim was tabbed the 6A District 10 Defensive MVP. While he’s not listed on Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Super Team, he is listed as one of the top-300 prospects in Texas and one of the top defensive linemen in the state. You saw what Powers said.

Nnodim marks the 11th overall commitment for the Cowboys in the 2024 class, joining DB Willie Nelson, DB Landyn Cleveland, LB Jaylen Boardley, DB David Kabongo, OL Caleb Hackleman, WR Tre Griffiths, RB Rodney Fields, TE Josh Ford and OL Chauncey Johnson. Nnodim breaks the tie and puts the defense now at six commitments and at least one at each level of the defense (line, backers, and secondary).