Azeez Ojulari
{{Short description|American football player (born 2000)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Azeez Ojulari
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_team = Philadelphia Eagles
| number = 52
| position = Linebacker
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|6|16}}
| birth_place = Austell, Georgia, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lb = 240
| high_school = Marietta {{avoid wrap|(Marietta, Georgia)}}
| college = Georgia (2018–2020)
| draftyear = 2021
| draftround = 2
| draftpick = 50
| pastteams =
- New York Giants ({{NFL Year|2021}}–{{NFL Year|2024}})
- Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|2025}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
| statseason = 2024
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 107
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 22.0
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 = 4
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 = 3
| statlabel5 = Pass deflections
| statvalue5 = 3
| statlabel6 = Interceptions
| statvalue6 =
| statlabel7 = Defensive touchdowns
| statvalue7 =
| pfr = OjulAz00
}}
Azeez O. Ojulari (born June 16, 2000) is an American professional football linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs and was selected by the Giants in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft.
Early life
Ojulari was born on June 16, 2000, in Austell, Georgia to Yoruba parents, and attended Marietta High School in Marietta, Georgia.{{Cite web |last=Sentell |first=Jeff |date=August 17, 2017 |title=BREAKING: Nation's No. 3 DE Azeez Ojulari chooses Georgia |url=https://www.dawgnation.com/football/recruiting/azeez-ojulari-2018-recruiting-commitment-georgia-bulldogs |access-date=April 7, 2021 |website=DawgNation.com}} As a senior, he had 118 tackles and 11 sacks before suffering a torn ACL.{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Maghen |date=December 17, 2017 |title=Justin Fields, other Georgia commits visit Azeez Ojulari after surgery |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/justin-fields-other-georgia-commits-visit-azeez-ojulari/HKF6KI3FVIqilwvitnIgIO/ |access-date=February 5, 2023 |website=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}} He was selected to the 2018 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. He committed to the University of Georgia to play college football.{{Cite web |last=White |first=Carlton D. |date=August 17, 2017 |title=Marietta defensive end Azeez Ojulari commits to play at Georgia |url=https://www.mdjonline.com/cobb_football_friday/marietta-defensive-end-azeez-ojulari-commits-to-play-at-georgia/article_2d1e0ffe-83a8-11e7-8368-9bf89d4d2622.html |access-date=February 5, 2023 |website=MDJOnline.com}}
College career
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.{{Cite web |last=Paschall |first=David |date=August 12, 2019 |title=Azeez Ojulari among Georgia's promising outside linebackers |url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2019/aug/12/azeez-ojulari-among-georgias-promising-outsid/ |access-date=February 6, 2023 |website=Chattanooga Times Free Press |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Dennis |first=Ryne |date=September 4, 2019 |title=Back from torn ACL, Azeez Ojulari now major factor for Bulldogs |url=https://www.onlineathens.com/sports/20190904/back-from-torn-acl-azeez-ojulari-now-major-factor-for-bulldogs |access-date=February 5, 2023 |website=Athens Banner-Herald}} As a redshirt freshman in 2019, he played in all 14 games and made 13 starts. He recorded 36 tackles and 5.5 sacks.{{Cite web |last=Leo |first=Jack |date=August 18, 2020 |title=Former Marietta standout Azeez Ojulari excited about another stout Georgia Bulldogs defense |url=https://www.mdjonline.com/sports/former-marietta-standout-azeez-ojulari-excited-about-another-stout-georgia-bulldogs-defense/article_fb25cd6c-b95f-553a-8ac1-4d4024ff6750.html |access-date=February 5, 2023 |website=MDJOnline.com}}{{Cite web |last=Leo |first=Jack |date=August 18, 2020 |title=Azeez Ojulari, Nakobe Dean excited about another stout Georgia Bulldogs defense |url=https://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/sports/azeez-ojulari-nakobe-dean-excited-about-another-stout-georgia-bulldogs-defense/article_77e681a2-e1be-11ea-9533-3b0a41f64bc8.html |access-date=February 5, 2023 |website=Gwinnett Daily Post}} Ojulari returned to Georgia in 2020 as a starter.{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Bailey |date=October 22, 2020 |title=Georgia's Azeez Ojulari becoming a force at pressuring a quarterback |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/georgia-bulldogs/georgias-azeez-ojulari-becoming-a-force-at-pressuring-a-quarterback/VYEJ4F56MRBWFFL5HHVXSKEUP4/ |access-date=February 5, 2023 |website=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}}{{Cite web |last=Towers |first=Chip |date=October 12, 2020 |title=Finally, a little recognition for Georgia's Azeez Ojulari |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/georgia-bulldogs/finally-a-little-recognition-for-georgias-azeez-ojulari/2R33NWLQMVC4LIRW2HT5Y7YJFA/ |access-date=February 5, 2023 |website=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}} During the 2020 season Ojulari was named second-team All-SEC and was the defensive MVP of the 2021 Peach Bowl.{{Cite web |title=Azeez Ojulari - 2020 - Football |url=https://georgiadogs.com/sports/football/roster/azeez-ojulari/4749 |access-date=May 1, 2021 |website=University of Georgia Athletics |language=en}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 2 1/4
| weight = 249
| dash = 4.61
| ten split = 1.60
| twenty split = 2.70
| shuttle = 4.34
| cone drill = 7.27
| vertical = 30.0
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 7
| bench = 26
| wonderlic =
| arm span = 34 1/2
| hand span = 10 1/2
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |title=2021 Draft Scout Azeez Ojulari, Georgia NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1029606&DraftYear=2021 |access-date=May 5, 2021 |website=draftscout.com}}{{Cite web |title=Azeez Ojulari 2021 NFL Draft Profile |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207023422/https://insider.espn.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/105162 |access-date=June 30, 2022 |website=insider.espn.com}}
}}
=New York Giants=
Ojulari was selected by the New York Giants in the second round (50th overall) of the 2021 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Schwartz |first=Paul |date=April 30, 2021 |title=Giants score potential NFL Draft coup with Azeez Ojulari pick |url=https://nypost.com/2021/04/30/2021-nfl-draft-giants-go-big-with-pass-rusher-azeez-ojulari/ |access-date=May 1, 2021 |website=New York Post}} He signed his four-year rookie contract on May 13, 2021.{{Cite web |last=Traina |first=Patricia |date=May 13, 2021 |title=Giants Sign Three Draft Picks |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/giants/gm-report/giants-sign-three-draft-picks |access-date=July 26, 2021 |website=SI.com}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Benton |first=Dan |date=January 1, 2022 |title=Azeez Ojulari nearing Lawrence Taylor's unofficial Giants rookie sack record |url=https://giantswire.usatoday.com/2022/01/01/azeez-ojulari-nearing-lawrence-taylor-unofficial-new-york-giants-rookie-sack-record/ |access-date=February 5, 2023 |website=Giants Wire|publisher=USA Today}}
On October 22, 2022, Ojulari was placed on injured reserve.{{Cite web |last=Salomone |first=Dan |date=October 22, 2022 |title=Landon Collins activated, Azeez Ojulari to IR among series of roster moves |url=https://www.giants.com/news/landon-collins-azeez-ojulari-ryder-anderson-quincy-roche0 |access-date=February 5, 2023 |website=Giants.com}} On December 3, he was activated from injured reserve.{{Cite web |last=Eisen |first=Michael |date=December 3, 2022 |title=OLB Azeez Ojulari activated among series of moves |url=https://www.giants.com/news/azeez-ojulari-nick-vannett-ohio-state-buckeyes-tony-jefferson-roster |access-date=February 5, 2023 |website=Giants.com}} He finished the 2022 season with 5.5 sacks, ending the season second on the team behind nose tackle Dexter Lawrence in sacks.{{Cite web |title=Azeez Ojulari 2022 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OjulAz00/gamelog/2022/ |access-date=2023-08-20 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=2022 New York Giants Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nyg/2022.htm |access-date=2023-08-20 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
On October 14, 2023, Ojulari was placed on injured reserve.{{cite web|title=Azeez Ojulari to IR among series of roster moves|url=https://www.giants.com/news/azeez-ojulari-injured-reserve-justin-pugh-tommy-devito-jalen-mayfield-week-6|website=Giants.com|date=October 15, 2023}} On November 11, the Giants reactivated him back on their active roster.{{cite web|url=https://www.giants.com/news/azeez-ojulari-randy-bullock-tyree-jackson-dallas-cowboys-week-10-roster-moves|work=Giants.com|title=Giants activate OLB Azeez Ojulari from injured reserve|date=November 11, 2023|accessdate=November 11, 2023|first=Michael|last=Eisen}}
=Philadelphia Eagles=
On March 19, 2025, the Philadelphia Eagles signed Ojulari to a one-year deal worth $4 million.{{cite web|title=Eagles, Azeez Ojulari agree to terms on one-year deal|url=https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-azeez-ojulari-agree-to-terms|website=PhiladelphiaEagles.com|date=March 17, 2025}}
Personal life
Ojulari was born the son of Nigerian immigrants; his maternal grandfather was the late Yoruban artist and musician Twins Seven Seven.{{Cite web |last=Emerson |first=Seth |title=Next generation: Azeez Ojulari, his heritage and his own calling |url=https://www.dawgnation.com/football/next-generation-azeez-ojulari-heritage-own-calling |access-date=April 7, 2021 |website=DawgNation.com|date=March 6, 2018 }} His younger brother, BJ Ojulari, played college football at LSU and was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2023 NFL draft.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{footballstats|yahoo=33438|espn=4379409|nfl=azeez-ojulari}}
- [https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/team/players-roster/azeez-ojulari/ Philadelphia Eagles bio]
- [https://georgiadogs.com/sports/football/roster/azeez-ojulari/4749 Georgia Bulldogs bio]
{{Philadelphia Eagles roster navbox}}
{{Giants2021DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ojulari, Azeez}}
Category:American players of American football of Nigerian descent
Category:Players of American football from Atlanta
Category:American football outside linebackers
Category:American football defensive ends
Category:Georgia Bulldogs football players