Azeez Ojulari

Azeez Ojulari
No. 51 – New York Giants
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (2000-06-16) June 16, 2000 (age 24)
Austell, Georgia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
High school:Marietta (Marietta, Georgia)
College:Georgia (2018–2020)
NFL draft:2021 / round: 2 / pick: 50
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 8, 2024
Total tackles:103
Sacks:22.0
Forced fumbles:4
Fumble recoveries:3
Pass deflections:3
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Azeez O. Ojulari (born June 16, 2000) is an American professional football linebacker for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia and was drafted by the Giants in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft.

Early life

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Ojulari was born on June 16, 2000, in Austell, Georgia to Yoruba parents, and attended Marietta High School in Marietta, Georgia.[1] As a senior, he had 118 tackles and 11 sacks before suffering a torn ACL.[2] He was selected to the 2018 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. He committed to the University of Georgia to play college football.[3]

College career

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After recovering from the torn ACL he suffered his senior season of high school, Ojulari played in two games his first year at Georgia in 2018 and took a redshirt.[4][5] As a redshirt freshman in 2019, he played in all 14 games and made 13 starts. He recorded 36 tackles and 5.5 sacks.[6][7] Ojulari returned to Georgia in 2020 as a starter.[8][9] During the 2020 season Ojulari was named second-team All-SEC and was the defensive MVP of the 2021 Peach Bowl.[10]

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 2+1⁄4 in
(1.89 m) 		249 lb
(113 kg) 		34+1⁄2 in
(0.88 m) 		10+1⁄2 in
(0.27 m)		 4.61 s 1.60 s 2.70 s 4.34 s 7.27 s 30.0 in
(0.76 m)		 10 ft 7 in
(3.23 m)		 26 reps
All values from NFL Combine[11][12]

Ojulari was selected by the New York Giants in the second round (50th overall) of the 2021 NFL draft.[13] He signed his four-year rookie contract on May 13, 2021.[14] Ojulari finished the season with 8 sacks which set an all-time Giants record for sacks by a rookie, surpassing B. J. Hill, who recorded 5.5 sacks in 2018.[15]

On October 22, 2022, Ojulari was placed on injured reserve.[16] On December 3, he was activated from injured reserve.[17] He finished the 2022 season with 5.5 sacks, ending the season second on the team behind nose tackle Dexter Lawrence in sacks.[18][19]

On October 14, 2023, Ojulari was placed on injured reserve.[20] On November 11, the Giants reactivated him back on their active roster.[21]

Personal life

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Ojulari was born the son of Nigerian immigrants; his maternal grandfather was the late Yoruban artist and musician Twins Seven Seven.[22] His younger brother, BJ Ojulari, played college football at LSU and was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2023 NFL Draft.[22]

References

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  1. ^ Sentell, Jeff (August 17, 2017). "BREAKING: Nation's No. 3 DE Azeez Ojulari chooses Georgia". DawgNation.com. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  2. ^ Moore, Maghen (December 17, 2017). "Justin Fields, other Georgia commits visit Azeez Ojulari after surgery". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  3. ^ White, Carlton D. (August 17, 2017). "Marietta defensive end Azeez Ojulari commits to play at Georgia". MDJOnline.com. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  4. ^ Paschall, David (August 12, 2019). "Azeez Ojulari among Georgia's promising outside linebackers". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  5. ^ Dennis, Ryne (September 4, 2019). "Back from torn ACL, Azeez Ojulari now major factor for Bulldogs". Athens Banner-Herald. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  6. ^ Leo, Jack (August 18, 2020). "Former Marietta standout Azeez Ojulari excited about another stout Georgia Bulldogs defense". MDJOnline.com. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  7. ^ Leo, Jack (August 18, 2020). "Azeez Ojulari, Nakobe Dean excited about another stout Georgia Bulldogs defense". Gwinnett Daily Post. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  8. ^ Johnson, Bailey (October 22, 2020). "Georgia's Azeez Ojulari becoming a force at pressuring a quarterback". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  9. ^ Towers, Chip (October 12, 2020). "Finally, a little recognition for Georgia's Azeez Ojulari". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  10. ^ "Azeez Ojulari - 2020 - Football". University of Georgia Athletics. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  11. ^ "2021 Draft Scout Azeez Ojulari, Georgia NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  12. ^ "Azeez Ojulari 2021 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  13. ^ Schwartz, Paul (April 30, 2021). "Giants score potential NFL Draft coup with Azeez Ojulari pick". New York Post. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  14. ^ Traina, Patricia (May 13, 2021). "Giants Sign Three Draft Picks". SI.com. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  15. ^ Benton, Dan (January 1, 2022). "Azeez Ojulari nearing Lawrence Taylor's unofficial Giants rookie sack record". Giants Wire. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  16. ^ Salomone, Dan (October 22, 2022). "Landon Collins activated, Azeez Ojulari to IR among series of roster moves". Giants.com. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  17. ^ Eisen, Michael (December 3, 2022). "OLB Azeez Ojulari activated among series of moves". Giants.com. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  18. ^ "Azeez Ojulari 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  19. ^ "2022 New York Giants Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  20. ^ "Azeez Ojulari to IR among series of roster moves". Giants.com. October 15, 2023.
  21. ^ Eisen, Michael (November 11, 2023). "Giants activate OLB Azeez Ojulari from injured reserve". Giants.com. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  22. ^ a b Emerson, Seth (March 6, 2018). "Next generation: Azeez Ojulari, his heritage and his own calling". DawgNation.com. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
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