Ryan Coogler wins Oscar for 'Sinners,' first former college football player in major category

Ryan Coogler has built an impressive career in Hollywood. Now he can add the title of Academy Award winner to his resume. 

The 39-year-old won the best original screenplay Oscar for 'Sinners' and received a standing ovation after accepting the award on Sunday night. The film, set in the Delta region of Mississippi in the 1930s, stars Michael B. Jordan as twin brothers, Smoke and Stack, and Hailee Steinfeld, Mary, centers around a juke joint. 

The Coogler film blends "vampire lore, hoodoo, and intense action" as the two worlds of natural and supernatural evil are rooted in cultural lineage. Definitely not for the weak hearted. Sinners received 16 Oscar nominations, the most for any film in history, including Best Picture, Best Directing, and Jordan for Best Actor. 

“Please, please, please sit down, ’cause I’m very nervous and they’re gonna play me off. I grew up in Oakland, California, and we can talk a lot," Coogler said during his acceptance speech. "I wanna thank the Academy for thinking of our movie that came out almost a year ago. This is an incredible honor,” the filmmaker continued. “I wanna thank my fellow nominees. I wanna thank y’all for the gifts that y’all movies were and for y’all’s friendship over the past years and months.”

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Coogler is the first former division I college football player to win an Oscar. As a receiver at Sacramento State, he recorded 112 receptions for 1,213 yards and six touchdowns. Needless to say, giving up football has paid off 

Jordan took home the award for Best Actor. The film also won for Achievement in Cinematography and Original Score. Four out of the 16 isn't a bad total.

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