Pronunciation: oak-PAH-la

2020 Sophomore

• Played in two games at offensive line 
• Made offensive line debut at Northwestern 12/12/20 
• University of Illinois Student-Athlete Advisory Committee

2019 Freshman

• Played in one game and redshirted the season
• Made Illinois debut in the season opener against Akron

High School

• Three-star recruit by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN
• Ranked No. 649 recruit in the nation by 247Sports
• Ranked No. 37 strong side defensive end in the nation by Rivals and No. 47 by 247Sports
• Ranked No. 38 defensive end in the nation by ESPN
• Ranked No. 7 recruit in Missouri by Rivals and ESPN and No. 12 by 247Sports
• No. 48 recruit in Illinois’ last 19 years according to 247Sports
• Four-year letterwinner in football and basketball
• Played for head coaches Mike Tarpey and Chad Anderson and Ladue
• Led Ladue Horton Watkins to 2018 Missouri Class 4 state title as a senior and 2017 state runner-up finish
• 0.5 TFL and one QB hurry in the 2018 Missouri Class 4 state title game
• 2018 USA TODAY All-USA Missouri first team
• Two-time all-state defensive end
• Four-year Honor Roll member
• Four-year Ram Pride Award recipient
• National Honor Society
• Verbally committed to Illinois in November 2018
• Offers included Arkansas, Iowa State, Kentucky, Michigan State, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Missouri, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ole Miss, Purdue, Vanderbilt, Virginia, and Wisconsin

Personal

• Born Sept. 19, 1999
• Son of Moses E. Okpala and Ngozi Okpala
• American parents are Kim and Gary Bussard
• Five brothers, Chinedu Okpala, Chukwuebuka Okpala, Goodluck Okpala, Godsgift Okpala and Bryce Bussard, and three sisters, Onyinye Okpala, Haley Bussard and McKenzie Bussard.
• Nicknamed “Big Mo”
• Picked Illinois because, “The academics, the coaches and a welcoming environment.”
• Only played basketball before coming to the United States
• Plans to become a lawyer following playing career
• Majoring in psychology