Emmanuel Okoye was playing basketball in his native Nigeria when Osi Umenyiora noticed him nearly two years ago.

The former NFL star, who owns "The Uprise" scouting program, couldn't miss the 6-foot-5, 230-pound Okoye. He invited Okoye to a talent identification camp in Abjua, Nigeria and the path way to Knoxville was paved.

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Okoye impressed, earning an invite to an NFL-sponsored camp in Ghana and later enrolled at the NFL Academy in London where he caught the eye of the Tennessee coaching staff.

Okoye committed to the Vols and is two days into his first fall camp less than two years after his football journey began.

“I was playing basketball at the time, Osi came for the camp,” Okoye said. “I did my best in socks. I just did what I had to do. He saw the zeal I had for the game and gave me the opportunity to play football in the UK. I put my 100% into it and I’m here.”

WATCH ON VOLREPORT: Tennessee football TE coach Alec Abeln meets with media following fall camp

Understandably, Okoye's skill set is still raw. He's playing a position he's never played before in a sport he has only limited experience with but the rest of Tennessee's tight ends room sets up perfectly for him.

The group includes sixth-year senior Jacob Warren and transfer McCallan Castles, both of which have a plethora of playing experience and provide examples of how to play the position.

"Our tight ends room is really full of great guys," Okoye said. "Jacob Warren, he's a great bro to me and (freshman) Ethan Davis, we are both pretty much new, so we could walk through almost everything together, get reps together...Everyone in the tight end room, they pretty much help me with everything."

"Fall camp is definitely interesting because you got old guys that you want to talk about some really deep stuff with or nuanced stuff," Tight ends coach Alec Abeln added. "Then, you got other guys that are literally learning them game of football.

"Definitely makes it a challenge, but credit the old guys for being patient. A lot of times they're coaching the young guys before I even have to."

Okoye was given the choice of deciding where he wanted to play by the Tennessee coaching staff, which reiterated to him their belief in his potential. He felt his skill set fit the position better.

"I feel like I could use my speed to create more space," Okoye said. "Me being able to use my athleticism on the offense will be a great thing for me. I'm still waiting to see how much can unfold."

A lot remains to be seen on Okoye as far as the move from the NFL Academy to playing SEC football, but Abeln is confident he can be a key contributor in the offense by the time his collegiate career if finished.

"He's got a chance to be the most athletic guy to play the position," Abeln said. "I truly believe that. He is as physically gifted as anyone I've ever been around. He's got to continue to make steps every day, but just from a raw athletic standpoint, the ceiling is unlimited."

WATCH ON VOLREPORT: Tennessee football freshmen take stage after fall camp practice

Outside of football, Okoye is as interesting of a person as he is as a tight end prospect.

He is fluent in three different languages and has lived in four different countries in the span of two years. Despite a number of differences that Okoye has had to adjust to, found at least some familiarity in Knoxville—enough to help him make the decision to come to Tennessee beyond 11-win seasons and player development.

"I would say the U.S. and Nigeria is quite different," Okoye said. "The accent, languages, the style, the way people dress. It's quite different. The food and the environment in general, but where I grew up in Lagos, It's quite similar to out here.

"Where I grew up is more like nature, so that's similar to Knoxville. That's a good reason why I chose here."

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