NFL: Lawrence Okoye making sound progress

San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh says Lawrence Okoye is making progress as a football player, despite calling him ‘not very good’ at a press conference.

Okoye, who represented Great Britain in the discus at London 2012, is trying to build a career in American Football and could make his pre-season debut on Thursday night against the Denver Broncos.

It has been a quick, and sometimes painful, rise through the ranks for Okoye, who had never played the game before heading over to the United States earlier this year.

Okoye, at 6ft 6ins and 304lbs, has the ideal physique for a defensive lineman, but he admits it has been a massive awakening to be continually knocked over by more experienced players since he started practicing properly.

Harbaugh said: “He’s not a good football player, and his next growth is to be not a bad player.

“But he’s made growth from never having played the game of football so, once again you talk about process, the expectations need to be realistic and that’s the next step.

“I want him to be a bad football player because that’s the next jump up for Lawrence Okoye, but he’s making significant strides each and every day.”

Okoye, who was picked up by the 49ers as a free agent after going unselected in the NFL draft, said: “I’m enjoying the ride. Sometimes I leave the field and my ears are ringing, but it’s a good feeling. I enjoy being a bad football player at the moment.

“I should be knocking guys down, but they’re knocking me down, and I should be getting better leverage.

“Everyone in the organization has been so good in giving me advice and encouragement. I want to do it for them and me.

“It’s going to be interesting to be in front of the Candlestick crowd and be at my first football game.”