Latest news with #Okonkwo
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 NFL preseason: Titans vs. Falcons Player of the Game: TE Gunnar Helm
The Tennessee Titans wrapped up their 10-day road trip with a preseason Week 2 win over the Atlanta Falcons. It wasn't an easy win, with an interception thrown by Brandon Allen and a lost fumble by T.J. Sheffield, but the Titans earned a victory nonetheless. One of the reasons the Titans walked away with a win is because of tight end Gunnar Helm, who is this week's Player of the Game. Helm recorded four receptions on four targets for 48 yards and a touchdown. Not only that, but he was all over the field when he was out there. He was in the mix on blocking, he was running routes as a receiver, and he was disrupting the Falcons' defense at every chance he could get. The rookie tight end doesn't just want a spot on the roster; he wants to be the starting tight end. That role currently belongs to Chig Okonkwo, but if he isn't careful, Helm will take his place in a heartbeat. Okonkwo is in his fourth season with the Titans, and he's been consistent in his production. Last year, though, he had two fumbles, something uncharacteristic of his usual performance. Both Okonkwo and Helm were fourth-round draft picks by the Titans, and both aim to have a role on the team in 2025. Tonight, Helm earned Player of the Game honors with his determination, drive, and strength. Expect him to push Okonkwo or take over his position in 2025.
Leader Live
08-08-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
No broken dreams for talented Wrexham AFC keeper Okonkwo
Goalkeeper Okonkwo has played 70 league games as the Reds have climbed from League Two into the Championship, but serious injuries have kept him out of action during both campaigns. Last season, he suffered a broken wrist during the 1-0 Legaue One win at home to Mansfield Town in November. This came just under a year after he fractured a jaw in a 2-2 League Two draw at Harrogate Town. Reflecting on finishing the game after his most recent injury, Okonkwo told Amanpour and Company: 'I think a little bit of it is adrenaline. I think the other part of it is wanting to stay on the pitch and wanting to win the game. 'Wanting to finish the game. I think, you know, for a goalkeeper, the hardest thing is coming on to the pitch. 'So, I know if I come off, you know, Cal Burton or Chomp (Mark Howard) is going to have to come in and I know how hard that feels. 'So, part of me also thinks about that and it's not easy coming into a game cold. But, yeah, it is very painful, but I've done it last year, broken jaw. 'This year, broken wrist. You get used to it!' Twelve months ago, Okonkwo was central to a will he or won't he storyline. Following on from the glorious National League-winning campaign, the Reds had followed this up in style by making sure of promotion from League Two. A crucial part of this success was Okonkwo, who made 36 league appearances during that campaign on loan from Arsenal. He was released by the Premier League giants last summer and Reds' fans were delighted when he signed for the club on a permanent basis. Okonkwo said: 'You know, there's a lot of rumours and transfer potentials when you're in that situation in the summer and sometimes, you just have to take a moment and think about what it is that you really want, and what you want to do and what's the best move for your career. 'But, I always knew that Wrexham was the right move for me. The fans wanted me back, the players wanted me back, you know. 'They couldn't tell me any more and I knew it was a place where it would be a good foundation to come back and... I'm young. 'I need a place where I can play and somewhere where I enjoy my football and Wrexham was that for me.' Now the former Gunners' goalie faces a battle to remain as the Reds' number one. Wales international Danny Ward has signed for Wrexham to increase competition for the number one spot at The Racecourse where last season's summer signing Callum Burton (pictured above) proved to be a more than capable deputy before his season was ended by a thigh injury.
Leader Live
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Wrexham AFC Championship test excites Arthur Okonkwo
The goalkeeper initially joined Wrexham on a season-long loan from Arsenal in September 2023 before making the move permanent last summer following his release by the Gunners. His two campaigns at The Racecourse have been hugely successful with Okonkwo winning back-to-back promotions with the Reds. Wrexham, who have secured an historic three successive promotions, will play in the second tier next term and it will be the 23-year-old's first experience of playing at that level. But Okonkwo, who kept 19 clean sheets in League One last season on the back of 16 shut-outs in League Two the previous campaign, is relishing the step-up. "I can't wait for next season. It's the next challenge playing in the Championship and I'm sure I'll be ready for it," he said. "We're just going to enjoy it, the same as this season just gone. "The pressure is going to be on and it's going to be challenging, we're just going to take it in our stride. "But last season was challenging, the season in League Two was challenging so it's just the same. "Obviously not the same in terms of the level which is going to increase again but that's football. "You want those challenges, you want to play in the big stadiums and you want to play the big teams. "That's what everyone dreams about and I am sure we are going to enjoy next season." Okonkwo previously had loan spells with Crewe Alexandra in League Two and Austrian side Sturm Graz during the 2022-23 season before starting his journey with Wrexham. The Reds were in League Two having already been crowned National League champions when Okonkwo arrived in north Wales and he's delighted the success story has continued with him in the ranks. "When I came back from Austria and joined Wrexham in League Two, I wanted to go up the leagues," he said. "To be doing that now is unbelievable, it's amazing. "Some of these players have three promotions in a row and I'm just so happy to be on that journey." MORE WREXHAM AFC NEWS Wrexham are back in the second tier for the first time in 43 years where they will come up against the likes of Leicester City, Southampton and Ipswich Town. Okonkwo added: "The thing that makes us really happy is that fans are with us on this journey. "They also get to see the big stadiums and watch us play the big teams. "This is what we all wanted, this is what I wanted to do when I joined Wrexham. "I wanted to compete and take the club to the next level and see how far we can take it."
Leader Live
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Wrexham keeper Okonkwo looks forward to the Championship
The former Arsenal goalkeeper was a key component in the Reds gaining promotion from League One, boasting the second best defensive record behind champions Birmingham City. Wrexham will line up with the big-spending Blues, in addition to the likes of Leicester City, Southampton and Ipswich Town - all relegated from the Premier League - when the new campaign kicks-off in August. Looking ahead to the season, Okonkwo told Amanpour and Company: 'I said the same thing last year. For me, it doesn't make sense to hope for 10th or 12th. I'm always going to have that mentality that we're going to go for promotion. 'But, yeah, I think everyone should be positive and we're going to try and go for it again. 'Obviously, this year, it's much more challenging, but it just doesn't make sense in my mind to think about finishing in the middle when there's so much higher you can aim for.' Since making the move to The Racecourse, Okonkwo has been part of two promotion-winning sides. On loan from Arsenal in 2023-24, Okonkwo was a real fan favourite between the sticks as Wrexham finished as runners-up to Stockport County in League Two. Fast forward to the League One campaign and despite suffering a broken wrist, Okonkwo still managed 34 league appearances as the Reds made it back-to-back-to-back promotions. The forthcoming campaign will be Wrexham's first in the second tier for more than four decades - and it is a new division for Okonkwo. 'It's hard to prepare for a league I've never played in before,' he stressed. 'But, the most I can do is, obviously, increase my training this summer, to make sure I'm physically ready. 'That's the most important thing and then, yeah, you know, the manager will have plans in place on how we can achieve big things this season and what we need to do, and taking those things on board. 'I think the biggest thing is adaptation, being able to adapt from League One up to the Championship, because it's a huge shift and I think, you know, with the manager, the players he brings in, the players we have, I have full confidence going into next season.'
Leader Live
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Wrexham keeper Arthur loves pre-match engagement with fans
Okonkwo has become a real fans' favourite during his two seasons at The Racecourse and he is now preparing to make the step-up with the Reds to the Championship. The goalkeeper originally joined Wrexham on loan from Premier League giants Arsenal during the opening stages of the 2023-24 League Two campaign and he has fully embraced the pre-match interactions he has with supporters. Okonkwo told Amanpour and Company: 'I've seen both sides to it. I was at Arsenal and the season I had with the first team, you were literally escorted everywhere you're going. 'You don't see the fans. We have security everywhere and I think that's a special thing that's at Wrexham at the moment. 'You know, you come in before every game, we sign everyone's stuff and, you know, you feel good about it. 'It's really special to be able to engage with the fans before the game and that's something you don't really get, obviously, higher up the levels and... I hope it stays like that. 'Being able to engage with fans as much as we can, it's always a special feeling.' Two other fan favourites - Steven Fletcher and Mark Howard - have departed the club following the League One promotion-winning campaign and executive director Humphrey Ker says bidding farewell to players is tough to do. He said: 'Really, the cruellest irony of this whole thing is that the success that these players deliver for the club creates a huge challenge for them, in terms of their ability to continue with the club as it goes up through the levels. 'With Arthur, he's a young player, he's got unbelievable potential. He's already a fantastic player. 'So, he's someone that, I think has a very long future with the club if he so chooses and if we can hold on to him, you know, if he doesn't go and get signed by Real Madrid! 'This summer, we said goodbye to, in particular, Steven Fletcher and Mark Howard. 'Chomp, as he's known, Mark Howard is someone whose been with us from the National League all the way up. He's had three promotions in a row. 'Fletch has had two promotions with us and they're not only fantastic players, but they're great people. 'I mean, a huge basis of the success that we've enjoyed as a club has been the quality of not only the player, but the person that the manager's been able to bring in and it's brutal. 'It's really, really tough. I mean, it's such a tight-knit group. It's such an incredible dressing room. 'That character is really the most valuable thing that we've been able to unearth. The individual players, great players, great value in terms of transfer fees and wages, and all that sort of stuff. 'But, actually, the thing that has delivered three successive promotions, that starts with the people, the characters, the personalities. 'So, yes, saying goodbye to those people is very hard. It's very hard.'
