# Namdi Obiazor
**Namdi Obiazor** (pronounced NAM-dee oh-bee-EYE-zor) is an [American football](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-football) linebacker for the [New England Patriots](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-england-patriots) of the [National Football League](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-football-league), selected by the team in the sixth round, 212th overall, of the 2026 NFL Draft after playing college football at TCU.[1](https://www.patriots.com/team/players-roster/namdi-obiazor/) He is listed at 6 feet 3 inches and 229 pounds, wears number 48, and is from Eden Prairie, Minnesota.[2](https://www.nfl.com/players/namdi-obiazor/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Position, team, number | Linebacker, New England Patriots, No. 48[2](https://www.nfl.com/players/namdi-obiazor/) |
| Draft | Sixth round, 212th overall, 2026 NFL Draft[1](https://www.patriots.com/team/players-roster/namdi-obiazor/) |
| Size and testing | 6-3, 229 lbs; 30 3/4-inch arms, 10 1/2-inch hands; official 4.53-second 40-yard dash at the 2026 combine[2](https://www.nfl.com/players/namdi-obiazor/) |
| College path | Iowa Western Community College (2020–21), then TCU (2022–25)[1](https://www.patriots.com/team/players-roster/namdi-obiazor/) |
| TCU career totals | 302 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 3 interceptions, 6 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery[1](https://www.patriots.com/team/players-roster/namdi-obiazor/) |
| Best college season | 2025: started all 15 games, 88 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions; Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week vs. Colorado (10/4)[1](https://www.patriots.com/team/players-roster/namdi-obiazor/) |
| Rookie contract | Four-year deal; $944,718 cap hit in 2026 ($885,000 base salary plus $59,718 signing-bonus proration)[3](https://www.patspulpit.com/new-england-patriots-roster/130712/namdi-obiazor-scouting-report-2026-preview-strengths-weaknesses) |
## Early career and path to TCU
Obiazor graduated from Eden Prairie High School in Minnesota as an undersized cornerback with no Division I scholarship offers, and he took the junior college route, spending two seasons (2020–21) at Iowa Western Community College.[1](https://www.patriots.com/team/players-roster/namdi-obiazor/) • [3](https://www.patspulpit.com/new-england-patriots-roster/130712/namdi-obiazor-scouting-report-2026-preview-strengths-weaknesses) In 16 games there he totaled 31 tackles, an interception, 4 passes defensed, and 1 blocked kick, and he was a First-Team NJCAA All-American in 2021.[1](https://www.patriots.com/team/players-roster/namdi-obiazor/) One scouting profile describes him as having originally been a walk-on at Akron before transferring, an account that differs from the Patriots' official biography, which places his pre-TCU years entirely at Iowa Western.[4](https://nefootballjournal.com/nefj-scouting-report-on-namdi-obiazor/) • [1](https://www.patriots.com/team/players-roster/namdi-obiazor/)
## College career at TCU
Obiazor arrived at TCU in 2022 as a safety and played in all 15 games as a freshman, making two starts and totaling 49 tackles with 2 passes defensed.[1](https://www.patriots.com/team/players-roster/namdi-obiazor/) He made the switch from the nickel safety position to off-ball linebacker in 2023 and promptly led the TCU defense with 84 tackles and 4 sacks while starting all 12 games, earning Honorable Mention All-Big 12 and Honorable Mention Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year recognition.[1](https://www.patriots.com/team/players-roster/namdi-obiazor/) • [3](https://www.patspulpit.com/new-england-patriots-roster/130712/namdi-obiazor-scouting-report-2026-preview-strengths-weaknesses) That season included sacks in three consecutive games, against BYU, at Kansas State, and at Texas Tech.[1](https://www.patriots.com/team/players-roster/namdi-obiazor/)
**Junior and senior seasons.** In 2024 he started all 13 games and finished with 81 tackles, 2.5 sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble, with a career-high 13 tackles and 2.5 sacks against No. 24 Michigan.[1](https://www.patriots.com/team/players-roster/namdi-obiazor/) He returned for a senior season in 2025 and started all 15 games, recording 88 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions, and a forced fumble.[1](https://www.patriots.com/team/players-roster/namdi-obiazor/) Against Colorado on October 4, 2025, he had 10 tackles, a sack, and an interception, earning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors.[1](https://www.patriots.com/team/players-roster/namdi-obiazor/) [Pro Football Focus](https://www.edgepedia.org/pro-football-focus) graded his 2025 season at 73.5 overall, with a 79.0 run-defense grade and 9 total pressures including 2 sacks on 675 defensive snaps.[5](https://www.pff.com/ncaa/players/Namdi%20Obiazor/157288) He closed his college career with seven tackles and no missed tackles in TCU's Alamo Bowl win over USC, his 69th college game.[3](https://www.patspulpit.com/new-england-patriots-roster/130712/namdi-obiazor-scouting-report-2026-preview-strengths-weaknesses)
## Draft evaluation
At the 2026 [NFL Scouting Combine](https://www.edgepedia.org/nfl-scouting-combine), Obiazor ran an official 4.53-second 40-yard dash, and his full testing battery included a 37-inch vertical jump, a 7.24-second three-cone drill, and 21 bench press reps.[2](https://www.nfl.com/players/namdi-obiazor/) • [3](https://www.patspulpit.com/new-england-patriots-roster/130712/namdi-obiazor-scouting-report-2026-preview-strengths-weaknesses) NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein, a veteran draft evaluator, graded him 6.10 and wrote that he is an assignment-sound inside linebacker with good tape and average short-area athletic ability, a former safety who sees the field clearly but is average in coverage, projecting as a dependable backup and core special-teamer.[6](https://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker/2026/prospects/lb_all) Pats Pulpit's scouting report credited his form tackling, blitz timing, and positional versatility while flagging his arm length (30 3/4 inches, in the 9th percentile among linebackers) and sideline-to-sideline speed as limitations.[3](https://www.patspulpit.com/new-england-patriots-roster/130712/namdi-obiazor-scouting-report-2026-preview-strengths-weaknesses) The New England Football Journal described him as a high-ceiling developmental prospect who fits the modern "Will" linebacker or Big Nickel mold.[4](https://nefootballjournal.com/nefj-scouting-report-on-namdi-obiazor/)
## NFL career
The Patriots selected Obiazor 212th overall in the sixth round of the 2026 draft, and he signed a four-year rookie contract carrying a $944,718 salary cap hit in 2026.[1](https://www.patriots.com/team/players-roster/namdi-obiazor/) • [3](https://www.patspulpit.com/new-england-patriots-roster/130712/namdi-obiazor-scouting-report-2026-preview-strengths-weaknesses) He entered a depth chart topped by Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss, with [CBS Sports](https://www.edgepedia.org/cbs-sports) projecting a reserve role at inside linebacker and special-teams work built on his college punt-coverage experience.[7](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/28878385/namdi-obiazor/)
Through the first five games of the 2026 season he played in five games with no starts, recording 7 combined tackles (5 solo).[1](https://www.patriots.com/team/players-roster/namdi-obiazor/) His most visible play came against the [Philadelphia Eagles](https://www.edgepedia.org/philadelphia-eagles), when he broke up quarterback Tanner McKee's touchdown pass on fourth down to force a turnover on downs.[2](https://www.nfl.com/players/namdi-obiazor/)
## References
1. [Namdi Obiazor player biography, Patriots.com](https://www.patriots.com/team/players-roster/namdi-obiazor/)
2. [Namdi Obiazor player info, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/players/namdi-obiazor/)
3. [Patriots 2026 scouting report for LB Namdi Obiazor, Pats Pulpit](https://www.patspulpit.com/new-england-patriots-roster/130712/namdi-obiazor-scouting-report-2026-preview-strengths-weaknesses)
4. [NEFJ Scouting Report on Namdi Obiazor, New England Football Journal](https://nefootballjournal.com/nefj-scouting-report-on-namdi-obiazor/)
5. [Namdi Obiazor TCU college stats, Pro Football Focus](https://www.pff.com/ncaa/players/Namdi%20Obiazor/157288)
6. [2026 LB Draft Prospects: Namdi Obiazor analysis by Lance Zierlein, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker/2026/prospects/lb_all)
7. [Namdi Obiazor player page, CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/28878385/namdi-obiazor/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › American football players, coaches, and executives › Linebackers › Active professional linebackers › AFC linebackers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license