Oklahoma State University Athletics
Bailey, Lemon, Chinasa Get NFL Shot
July 26, 2011 | Cowboy Football
July 26, 2011
STILLWATER, Okla. - Former Oklahoma State football standouts Dan Bailey, Orie Lemon and Ugo Chinasa agreed to terms with NFL teams today. Bailey and Lemon both agreed to terms with the Dallas Cowboys and Chinasa with the Carolina Panthers.
The 2010 Lou Groza Award winner as the best kicker in college football, Bailey was tabbed as the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year that same season. The Mustang, Okla., native entered the OSU program as a walk-on and left as the school's all-time leading scorer with 370 career points. He set a single-season school record with 27 field goals made in 2010. Bailey ranked second in the nation in scoring as a senior and set a school record by hitting his first 182 extra-point attempts.
A first-team all-Big 12 honoree as a senior in 2010, Lemon's calling card was productivity, as he ranked among the national leaders with 133 tackles and had 101 solo stops. He garnered Big 12 defensive player of the week honors after racking up 13 tackles (10 solo), a sack, plus another tackle for loss in the Cowboys' win at Texas. He posted a 17-tackle performance at Texas Tech and a 14-tackle effort in the Pokes' Alamo Bowl win over Arizona. All tolled, he eclipsed the 10-tackle mark in his games during his senior year. A converted high school quarterback, Lemon was a two-year starter at middle linebacker for Oklahoma State in 2008 and 2010. He had his 2009 season derailed after sustaining a knee injury during practice the week of the season opener. When on the field, Lemon was as productive as anyone, racking up 90 tackles in 2008 before his breakthrough senior-season contribution of 133 stops, 9.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
In Dallas, Bailey and Lemon will join former Oklahoma State teammate Dez Bryant.
Chinasa was one of the most durable players on the Oklahoma State roster, finishing his career by logging 39 consecutive starts. He earned second-team all-Big 12 honors as a senior in 2010 after logging 38 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, an interception, a fumble forced and a fumble recovered. A native of Richardson, Texas, Chinasa turned in his best game of the 2010 season when his team needed him the most against Texas A&M. Chinasa picked off a pass and returned it 22 yards, bagged six tackles, two sacks and another tackle for loss in the Cowboys' win over the Aggies and was recognized as the Big 12 defensive player of the week for his efforts in that contest.
