Ajou Ajou

Last updated

Ajou Ajou
2024, 80, Ajou Ajou.jpg
Ajou with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2024
Indianapolis Colts
Position: Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (2002-01-10) January 10, 2002 (age 23)
Brooks, Alberta, Canada
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:211 lb (96 kg)
Career information
High school: Harry Ainlay High
Clearwater Academy International
College: Clemson (2020–2021)
South Florida (2022)
Garden City (2023)
CFL draft: 2024  / round: 7 / pick: 59
Undrafted: 2024
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career CFL statistics
Receptions:20
Receiving yards:307
Receiving touchdowns:2
Stats at CFL.ca

Ajou Ajou (born January 10, 2002) is a Canadian professional football wide receiver Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He has also played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Contents

College career

Ajou first played college football with the Clemson Tigers from 2020 to 2021, becoming the first Canadian to play for the team. [1] [2] He played in 22 games where he had eight catches for 114 yards and one touchdown. [2] While wanting more playing time, Ajou transferred to the University of South Florida in 2022 to play for the Bulls. [3] However, after recording two receptions for nine yards in the first game of the season, he suffered a sports hernia and sat out the rest of the season. [3] After returning to health in 2023, he was denied a spot on the team, so he transferred to Garden City Community College to play for the Broncbusters. [3] He then played in seven games where he had 17 catches for 186 yards and two touchdowns. [2] [3] Following the 2023 season, he declared for the CFL draft and NFL draft. [3]

Professional career

Ajou was drafted in the seventh round, 59th overall, in the 2024 CFL Draft by the Saskatchewan Roughriders and signed with the team on May 6, 2024. [4] Following training camp in 2024, he began the season on the team's injured list. [5] However, he soon after made his professional debut in week 2 on June 16, 2024, against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats where he had five receptions for 41 yards. [5] In the team's next game, also against the Tiger-Cats, on June 23, 2024, Ajou scored his first career touchdown on a 40-yard pass from Trevor Harris. [6] He became the first seventh-round draft pick to score a touchdown in franchise history. [6]

Ajou recorded his first 100-yard game on July 19, 2024, against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, when he recorded four catches for 110 yards, all in the second half, in a relief performance for the injured Kian Schaffer-Baker. [7] He played in 12 regular season games in his rookie year where he recorded 20 receptions for 307 yards and two touchdowns. [8] He was transferred to the six-game injured list on September 27, 2024, where he finished the year and did not appear in the team's two post-season games. [9]

On January 22, 2025, Ajou was released by the Roughriders to pursue opportunities in the National Football League. [8]

Two days later, he signed a contract with the Indianapolis Colts. [10]

Personal life

Ajou was raised in Brooks, Alberta by his mother who immigrated from South Sudan. [3]

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References

  1. "Ajou Ajou". Clemson Tigers . Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 "Ajou Ajou". Saskatchewan Roughriders . Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "2024 CFL Draft profiles: former Clemson REC Ajou Ajou not thrilled by fall from grace". 3DownNation. March 24, 2024.
  4. "Riders sign seven of their 2024 CFL Draft selections". Canadian Football League. July 19, 2024.
  5. 1 2 "Game notes" (PDF). Canadian Football League . Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  6. 1 2 "Rider review: TD, TD for Ajou Ajou over two home games". Saskatchewan Roughriders. June 24, 2024.
  7. "Roughriders improve to 5-1 with 19-9 win over Winnipeg". Saskatchewan Roughriders. July 19, 2024.
  8. 1 2 "Riders Release Ajou Ajou For An Nfl Opportunity". Saskatchewan Roughriders. January 22, 2025.
  9. "Transactions – Football Player Trades and Signings". Canadian Football League . Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  10. "Colts sign WR Ajou Ajou to reserve/future contract". Colts.com. January 24, 2025.