Kayode Awosika
{{Short description|American football player (born 1998)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Kayode Awosika
| image = Kayode Awosika (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Awosika with the Detroit Lions in 2022
| current_team = Detroit Lions
| number = 74
| position = Offensive tackle
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1998|10|27}}
| birth_place = Plymouth, Minnesota, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lb = 315
| high_school = Maple Grove {{avoid wrap|(Maple Grove, Minnesota)}}
| college = Buffalo (2017–2020)
| undraftedyear = 2021
| pastteams =
- Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|2021|2022}})
- Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|2022}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
- Second-team All-American (2020)
- First-team All-MAC (2020)
- Second-team All-MAC (2019)
| statweek = 18
| statseason = 2024
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 37
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 7
| pfr = AwosKa00
}}
Kayode Awosika (born October 27, 1998) is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Buffalo Bulls and signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2021.
Early life
Kayode Awosika was born on October 27, 1998, in Plymouth, Minnesota, to Nigerian immigrants.{{Cite web|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/buffalo/news/2020/11/12/ub-s-kayode-awosika-is-the--bringer-of-joy-|title=UB's Kayode Awosika is the "Bringer of Joy"|website=spectrumlocalnews.com}} He attended Maple Grove Senior High School, being named USA Today first-team All-Minnesota as a senior.
Collegiate career
Awosika played college football for the University at Buffalo.{{Cite web |date=August 10, 2020 |title=UB captain Kayode Awosika addresses postponed season |url=https://www.wivb.com/sports/ub-captain-kayode-awosika-addresses-postponed-season/}}{{Cite web |title=Maple Grove Graduate Kayode Awosika Enjoying Strong Football Season |url=https://ccxmedia.org/sports/maple-grove-graduate-kayode-awosika-enjoying-strong-football-season/}} He redshirted during his freshman year. In his redshirt-freshman year, he saw action in five games, as a reserve offensive tackle. He started all 14 games in his sophomore year and 11 games in his junior year. He was named team captain in his junior year and was named second-team All-Mid-American Conference (MAC). In his senior year, he started seven games, being named first-team All-MAC and a Football Writers Association of America second-team All-American.{{Cite web |title=Kayode Awosika - 2020 - Football |url=https://ubbulls.com/sports/football/roster/kayode-awosika/5368 |website=University at Buffalo}} He chose to forgo remaining eligibility and instead declare for the NFL draft.
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 3 1/8
| weight = 307
| dash = 5.19
| ten split = 1.85
| twenty split = 2.81
| shuttle = 4.91
| cone drill = 8.15
| vertical = 30
| broad ft = 8
| broad in = 4
| bench = 28
| wonderlic =
| arm span = 32 5/8
| hand span = 9
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1024322&DraftYear=2021 |title=Kayode Awosika, Buffalo, OG, 2021 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |website=draftscout.com |access-date=August 25, 2021}}
}}
=Philadelphia Eagles=
After going unselected in the 2021 NFL draft, Awosika signed as an undrafted free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles.{{Cite web|url=https://thelibertyline.com/2021/05/02/eagles-sign-buffalo-tackle-kayode-awosika/|title=Eagles sign Buffalo tackle Kayode Awosika - The Liberty Line|website=thelibertyline.com|date=May 2, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2021/6/11/22529298/eagles-rookie-profile-kayode-awosika-philadelphia-buffalo-offensive-tackle-guard-line-jeff-stoutland|title=Eagles Rookie Profile: 6 things to know about Kayode Awosika|first=Brandon Lee|last=Gowton|date=June 11, 2021|website=Bleeding Green Nation}} He was given the second-most guaranteed money among the Eagles undrafted free agents, behind Jack Stoll.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/eagles/eagles-contract-details-undrafted-free-agents-jamie-newman-trevon-grimes-jack-stoll|title=Contract details show which 2021 undrafted players Eagles like most|website=RSN|date=May 28, 2021 }}{{Cite web|url=https://theeagleswire.usatoday.com/lists/philadelphia-eagles-undrafted-free-agents-53-man-roster-bubble/|title=Undrafted free agents with the best chance to make the Eagles 53-man roster|date=June 12, 2021}} He was waived on August 31, 2021, and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.{{cite web|title=Eagles announce initial 53-man roster|url=https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-announce-initial-53-man-roster-2021|author=McPherson, Chris|website=PhiladelphiaEagles.com|date=August 31, 2021}}{{cite web|title=Eagles agree to terms with 15 players to join the practice squad|url=https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-agree-to-terms-2021-practice-squad|website=PhiladelphiaEagles.com|date=September 1, 2021}} Awosika made his NFL debut on January 8, 2022, in the Eagles' week 18 game against the Dallas Cowboys. In doing so, he became the first Maple Grove High School alumnus to play in the NFL.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hometownsource.com/press_and_news/news/local/blazing-a-crimson-gridiron-trail-awosika-becomes-first-maple-grove-alum-to-play-in-nfl/article_4043f538-94da-11ec-8dbf-63200276a9fa.html|title = Blazing a Crimson gridiron trail: Awosika becomes first Maple Grove alum to play in NFL| date=February 24, 2022 }} He signed a reserve/future contract with the Eagles on January 18, 2022.{{cite web|title=Eagles sign 11 players to Reserve/Futures contracts|url=https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-sign-11-players-to-reserve-futures-contracts|author=McPherson, Chris|website=PhiladelphiaEagles.com|date=January 18, 2022}}
On August 30, 2022, Awosika was waived by the Eagles and signed to the practice squad the next day.{{cite web|title=Eagles announce initial 53-man roster|url=https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-announce-initial-53-man-roster-202|author=McPherson, Chris|website=PhiladelphiaEagles.com|date=August 30, 2022}}{{Dead link|date=April 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web|title=Eagles sign 15 players to the practice squad|url=https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-sign-15-players-to-the-practice-squad|author=McPherson, Chris|website=PhiladelphiaEagles.com|date=August 31, 2022}}
=Detroit Lions=
On September 15, 2022, Awosika was signed by the Detroit Lions off the Eagles practice squad.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/eagles/eagles-lose-promising-offensive-lineman-kayode-awosika-lions|website=NBC Sports|author=Frank, Reuben|date=September 14, 2022|title=Lions snag promising lineman off Eagles' practice squad}} He was waived on August 29, 2023, and re-signed to the practice squad.{{cite web|title=Lions announce roster moves|url=https://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-announce-roster-moves-x4161|website=DetroitLions.com|date=August 29, 2023}}{{cite web|title=Lions announce roster moves|url=https://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-announce-roster-moves-x0612|website=DetroitLions.com|date=August 30, 2023}} On September 19, 2023, Awosika was signed to the active roster.{{Cite web |last=Birkett |first=Dave |date=September 19, 2023 |title=Detroit Lions promote RB Zonovan Knight, OG Kayode Awosika from practice squad |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2023/09/19/detroit-lions-nfl-roster-moves-zonovan-knight-kayode-awosika/70899769007/ |access-date=September 20, 2023 |website=freep.com |language=en-US}}
On March 28, 2025, Awosika re-signed with the Lions.{{cite web |last1=Riccette |first1=Billy |title=Lions re-sign OL Kayode Awosika |url=https://lionswire-eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2025/03/28/lions-re-sign-ol-kayode-awosika/82710345007/ |website=Lions Wire |access-date=29 March 2025}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.detroitlions.com/team/players-roster/kayode-awosika/ Detroit Lions bio]
{{Detroit Lions roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Awosika, Kayode}}
Category:Sportspeople from Plymouth, Minnesota
Category:Players of American football from Hennepin County, Minnesota
Category:Buffalo Bulls football players
Category:Philadelphia Eagles players
Category:Detroit Lions players
Category:American football offensive tackles
Category:American players of American football of Nigerian descent