Jamize Olawale
{{Short description|American football player (born 1989)}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Jamize Olawale
| image = Jamize Olawale 2017.JPG
| caption = Olawale with the Oakland Raiders in 2017
| current_team =
| number = 49
| position = Fullback
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1989|4|17|mf=y}}
| birth_place = San Francisco, California, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lbs = 242
| high_school = Long Beach Polytechnic
(Long Beach, California)
| college = {{ubl|Los Angeles Harbor (2007)|El Camino (2008–2009)|North Texas (2010–2011)}}
| undraftedyear = 2012
| pastteams = * Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|2012}})*
- Oakland Raiders ({{NFL Year|2012}}–{{NFL Year|2017}})
- Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|2018}}–{{NFL Year|2020}})
| status =
| highlights =
| statleague = NFL
| statseason =
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Rushing yards
| statvalue1 = 206
| statlabel2 = Rushing average
| statvalue2 = 3.7
| statlabel3 = Receptions
| statvalue3 = 41
| statlabel4 = Receiving yards
| statvalue4 = 438
| statlabel5 = Total touchdowns
| statvalue5 = 7
| pfr = OlawJa00
}}
Jamize Robert Olawale (born April 17, 1989) is an American former professional football player who was a fullback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Texas Mean Green and was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2012.
Early life
Olawale attended three high schools: Long Beach Poly High School, De La Salle High School, and St. Ignatius College Preparatory.{{Cite web |last=McDonald |first=Jerry |date=September 27, 2016 |title=Raiders FB Jamize Olawale surprised Marcel Reece won't be back |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2016/09/27/raiders-fb-jamize-olawale-surprised-marcel-reece-wont-be-back/ |access-date=April 7, 2018 |website=The Mercury News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=McDonald |first=Jerry |date=November 20, 2015 |title=Raiders' Jamize Olawale has special role with team |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2015/11/20/raiders-jamize-olawale-has-special-role-with-team/ |access-date=April 7, 2018 |website=The Mercury News |language=en-US}}
College career
Olawale played two seasons at El Camino College as a tight end, recording 15 receptions for 338 yards and three touchdowns.{{cite web |date=December 8, 2015 |title=Raiders sign FB Jamize Olawale to three-year extension |language=en-US |work=The Mercury News |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2015/12/08/raiders-sign-fb-jamize-olawale-to-three-year-extension/ |access-date=April 7, 2018}}
As a junior, he transferred to the University of North Texas, where he was switched to H-back, recording seven receptions for 79 yards.{{Cite web |title=Jamize Olawale College Stats |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/jamize-olawale-1.html |access-date=April 7, 2018 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Jamize Olawale 2010 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/jamize-olawale-1/gamelog/2010/ |access-date=April 7, 2018 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} In his senior season, he was moved to wide receiver, appearing in eight games and recording two receptions for nine yards.{{Cite web |title=Jamize Olawale 2011 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/jamize-olawale-1/gamelog/2011/ |access-date=April 7, 2018 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}
Professional career
=Dallas Cowboys (first stint)=
After not being selected in the 2012 NFL draft, Olawale received a tryout invitation for rookie mini-camp where he was converted from wide receiver to full back, and performed well enough to be signed as an undrafted free agent on May 14.{{Cite web |last=Archer |first=Todd |date=May 14, 2012 |title=Cowboys to sign two players |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/dallas-cowboys/post/_/id/4692794/cowboys-to-sign-two-players |access-date=October 10, 2023 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}
Although he enjoyed a successful preseason,{{Cite web |last=Archer |first=Todd |date=August 8, 2012 |title=Jamize Olawale doing all he can |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4695041/jamize-olawale-doing-all-he-can |access-date=October 10, 2023 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} he was waived on August 31, after the team decided to keep Phillip Tanner. Olawale was then signed to the team's practice squad.{{Cite web |last=Watkins |first=Calvin |date=September 1, 2012 |title=Lance Dunbar clears waivers, joins practice squad |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/dallas-cowboys/post/_/id/4696721/lance-dunbar-clears-waivers-returns-to-cowboys |access-date=October 10, 2023 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}
=Oakland Raiders=
On December 4, 2012, the Oakland Raiders hampered by injuries to running backs Darren McFadden and Mike Goodson, signed Olawale from the Dallas Cowboys practice squad. He appeared in three games during the season as a fullback.{{Cite web |date=December 4, 2012 |title=Raiders sign FB/RB to active roster |url=http://www.ibabuzz.com/oaklandraiders/2012/12/04/raiders-sign-fbrb-to-active-roster/ |publisher=Inside the Oakland Raiders |access-date=December 4, 2012 |archive-date=December 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121207131938/http://www.ibabuzz.com/oaklandraiders/2012/12/04/raiders-sign-fbrb-to-active-roster/ |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |title=Jamize Olawale 2012 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OlawJa00/gamelog/2012/ |access-date=April 7, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
Olawale would become a core special teams player. In 2013, he recorded eight special teams tackles (third on the team). In addition, he had seven receptions for 63 yards.{{Cite web |title=Jamize Olawale 2013 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OlawJa00/gamelog/2013/ |access-date=April 7, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
On December 21, 2014, he scored his first professional touchdown against the Buffalo Bills.{{Cite web |title=Buffalo Bills at Oakland Raiders - December 21st, 2014 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201412210rai.htm |access-date=April 7, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In the next game, he had another receiving touchdown, this time against the Denver Broncos.{{Cite web |title=Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos - December 28th, 2014 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201412280den.htm |access-date=April 7, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He recorded 5 receptions for 18 yards, 2 receiving touchdowns and 7 special teams tackles.{{Cite web |title=Jamize Olawale 2014 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OlawJa00/gamelog/2014/ |access-date=April 7, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
On December 8, 2015, he was signed to a three-year contract extension. On November 8, against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he had a 19-yard rushing touchdown.{{Cite web |title=Oakland Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers - November 8th, 2015 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201511080pit.htm |access-date=April 7, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He posted 24 carries for 110 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown to go along with nine receptions for 84 yards and 10 special teams tackles (led the team).{{Cite web |title=Jamize Olawale 2015 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OlawJa00/gamelog/2015/ |access-date=April 7, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
On November 21, 2016, against the Houston Texans, he had a 75-yard receiving touchdown from quarterback Derek Carr in the 27–20 victory at Azteca Stadium.{{Cite web |title=Houston Texans at Oakland Raiders - November 21st, 2016 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201611210rai.htm |access-date=April 7, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He finished the season with 17 carries for 47 rushing yards, 12 receptions for 227 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown and 2 special teams tackles.{{Cite web |title=Jamize Olawale 2016 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OlawJa00/gamelog/2016/ |access-date=April 7, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
His production dipped in the 2017 season but he still recorded nine rushes for 43 yards and a rushing touchdown to go along with six receptions for 33 receiving yards and 3 special teams tackles.{{Cite web |title=Jamize Olawale 2017 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OlawJa00/gamelog/2017/ |access-date=April 7, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
=Dallas Cowboys (second stint)=
In March 2018, the Raiders traded Olawale and a 2018 sixth-round pick (#192-Jamil Demby) to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a fifth-round choice (#173-Johnny Townsend).{{Cite web |last=Patra |first=Kevin |date=March 20, 2018 |title=Raiders trading FB Jamize Olawale to Dallas Cowboys |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/raiders-trading-fb-jamize-olawale-to-dallas-cowboys-0ap3000000922181 |access-date=October 9, 2023 |website=NFL.com}} He appeared in 16 games with 4 starts, registering 2 receptions for 13 yards and 13 special teams tackles (led the team).
On March 13, 2019, Olawale signed a three-year, $5.4 million contract extension with the Cowboys.{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Corey |date=March 13, 2019 |title=Cowboys bringing back fullback Jamize Olawale on 3-year deal |url=https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/2019/03/13/dallas-cowboys-jamize-olawale-2019-nfl-free-agency/ |access-date=October 9, 2023 |website=Cowboys Wire |publisher=USA Today}} He appeared in 16 games with 5 starts, collecting 5 special teams tackles (tied for fifth on the team). Although he was expected to contribute in the passing game, he could not record an offensive statistic during the season.
On March 10, 2020, Olawale's second-year option was exercised by the Cowboys. On August 2, 2020, Olawale announced he would opt out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was released after the season on March 10, 2021.{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Charean |author-link=Charean Williams |date=March 10, 2021 |title=Cowboys release Jamize Olawale |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/cowboys-release-jamize-olawale |access-date=October 10, 2023 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons}}
{{footballstats|espn=15653|yahoo=26535|nfl=jamize-olawale}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Olawale, Jamize}}
Category:American football running backs
Category:Dallas Cowboys players
Category:El Camino Warriors football players
Category:North Texas Mean Green football players
Category:Oakland Raiders players
Category:Players of American football from San Francisco
Category:Players of American football from Long Beach, California