HOUSTON — University of Houston offensive lineman Patrick Paul was taken by the Miami Dolphins with the 55th overall pick in the second round of the NFL Draft. Paul, a native Houstonian, was the first UH Cougar picked this year.
Paul was born in Houston, but his family moved to Nigeria when he was seven years old.
Why Nigeria?
Paul’s grandfather was the Major General and President of Nigeria in 1966 and his family has deep ties there, according to his bio on the University of Houston website. It was his grandfather who inspired him to want to work in government.
After he was picked, ESPN played a clip of Paul who explained why his grandfather was such an inspiration to him. He said before he was president of Nigeria, his grandfather worked under Queen Elizabeth and then took over the Nigerian army. He was assassinated when Paul's mother was just 3 years old.
Paul said his goal after football is to return to Nigeria and become president. You can see Paul talk about that in the video below.
After two-and-a-half years in Nigeria, Paul’s family returned to the United States where Paul got his start in football.
Paul said he wasn’t heavily recruited out of Jersey Village High School. He said his first scholarship offer came from Tulsa, where his older brother played, but he ended up staying home and playing for the Coogs.
A season-ending injury in 2020 gave Parks his greatest challenge.
“I learned a valuable lesson,” he said in his UH bio. “The game does not last forever, but the lessons it imparts endure. I had started five straight games over my first two years, and it felt like everything was coming to a screeching halt. Perseverance is in my blood. I had to bounce back.”
Paul did bounce back, becoming a team captain in 2022 and 2023. And now he’s off to the NFL and the Miami Dolphins, where he'll be counted on to protect quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.