Brian Orakpo (born July 31, 1986 in Houston, Texas) is an American football linebacker for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Redskins 13th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas.

College career

Orakpo played college football at the University of Texas. He was red-shirted as a freshman in 2004, but in 2005 he played in all 13 games and started in one. He made an immediate impact for the Longhorns, helping them finish 10th in the nation at defense, recording 27 Tackles, a half sack, a forced fumble and recovered fumble. His play earned him Defensive Freshman of the Year and First-team Freshman All-America by The Sporting News.

As a sophomore in 2006 he played all 13 games, recording 26 tackles and 4.5 sacks and was named one of the Lowe's Most Improved Defensive Players. As a junior in 2007 he played in nine games and missed four due to right knee injury suffered against Arkansas State. He was the Defensive MVP of the 2007 Holiday Bowl after recording six tackles and two sacks during the game. He finished the season with 37 tackles and 5.5 sacks.

As a senior in 2008 he was the Associated Press Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. He also was the winner of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, given to the best defensive player, the Ted Hendricks Award, given to the top defensive end, and the Lombardi Award, given to the best lineman or linebacker. He eventually garnered enough first-team All-American selections to be considered a "Unanimous Consensus" First-team All-American after being named to teams by the Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association of America, the Sporting News, and the Walter Camp Football Foundation. He finished the season with 40 tackles and 11 sacks.

In his college career he recorded 132 tackles, 22 sacks, 38 tackles for loss, 62 pressures, six passes broken up, six forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

Washington Redskins

Orakpo was drafted by the Washington Redskins 13th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. On July 31, he signed a five-year deal worth $20 million , which includes $12.1 million guaranteed. On December 13, 2009 against the Oakland Raiders, Orakpo tied a Redskins record with four sacks in a game and was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week. He was selected to the 2009 Pro Bowl as a reserve, one of only 6 rookies to do so, along with Chicago Bears Return Specialist Johnny Knox, Minnesota Vikings Return Specialist Percy Harvin, and Green Bay Packers LB Clay Matthews out of the NFC with Houston Texans LB Brian Cushing and Buffalo Bills S Jairus Byrd from the AFC, all of which were reserve or replacement players. Orakpo became the first rookie Redskin to make the Pro Bowl since RB/KR Tony Green in 1978.