Ayinde Eley

Last updated

Ayinde Eley
No. 41     Ottawa RedBlacks
2024, 41, Ayinde Eley.jpg
Eley with the BC Lions in 2024
Born: (1998-10-22) October 22, 1998 (age 26)
Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.
Career information
StatusActive
CFL status American
Position(s) LB
Height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight233 lb (106 kg)
College Maryland (2017–2020)
Georgia Tech (2021–2022)
High school Our Lady of Good Counsel (MD)
Career history
As player
2023 Carolina Panthers*
2024 Houston Texans*
2024 BC Lions
2025–present Ottawa RedBlacks
*Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career stats

Ayinde "Ace" Eley (born October 22, 1998) is an American professional football linebacker for the Ottawa RedBlacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Maryland and Georgia Tech. He has also been a member of the Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL), and the BC Lions of the CFL.

Contents

Early life

Eley attended Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Olney, Maryland. He was rated the No. 2 outside linebacker in Maryland, and a four-star recruit by Scout.com in the class of 2017. [1]

College career

Eley first played college football for the Maryland Terrapins from 2018 to 2020. He was redshirted in 2017. [2] [1] He played in 12 games, starting one, in 2018, recording 13 tackles, one interception, and one pass breakup. Eley appeared in 11 games, starting nine, during the 2019 season, totaling 79 tackles, 0.5 sacks, one interception, five pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. [2] He played in three games, starting one, during the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, and made 19 tackles. [2]

Eley transferred to play for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets from 2021 to 2022. [3] [4] He played in 11 games, all starts, in 2021, recording 90 tackles, 0.5 sacks, and one pass breakup. [1] He started all 12 games during the 2022 season, totaling 118 tackles, 3.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries, garnering second team all-ACC recognition. [1]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 3+1⁄5 in
(1.91 m)		230 lb
(104 kg)		31+7⁄8 in
(0.81 m)		9+1⁄2 in
(0.24 m)		4.97 s1.76 s2.96 s4.62 s7.50 s32 in
(0.81 m)		10 ft 0 in
(3.05 m)		20 reps
All values from Pro Day [5]

Carolina Panthers

After going undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft, Eley signed with the Carolina Panthers on May 16, 2023. [6] [7] He was waived on August 29. [8] [6] He was later signed to the team's practice squad on November 7, 2023. [6]

Houston Texans

Eley was signed by the Houston Texans on January 22, 2024. He was waived on March 21, 2024. [6]

BC Lions

Eley signed with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL) on April 3, 2024. He was moved to the practice roster on June 20, and promoted to the active on June 26. [6] During the 2024 season he played 17 games and one playoff game, becoming a starting linebacker, making 60 tackles, one special teams tackle, and one forced fumble. He was selected as the Lions nominee for Outstanding Rookie.

It was reported, on Feb. 22, 2025, that the Lions had released Eley, having signed linebakers Micah Awe, Adam Auclair and Adam Konar in free agency. [9]

Ottawa RedBlacks

Eley signed with the Ottawa RedBlacks on Feb. 24, 2025. [10]

Personal life

Eley's father, Donald Hill-Eley, is a football coach. [11] [12]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Ayinde Eley". ramblinwreck.com. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 "Ayinde Eley". umterps.com. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Eley, McGowan join Ga Tech football as graduate transfers". yahoo.com. January 20, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  4. ↑ Sugiura, Ken (April 5, 2021). "Seeking change, grad transfer Ayinde Eley happy at Georgia Tech". ajc.com. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  5. ↑ "2023 NFL Draft Scout Ayinde Eley College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Ayinde Eley". Footballdb.com. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  7. ↑ Sugiura, Ken (May 16, 2023). "Former Yellow Jacket Ayinde Eley signs with Panthers as undrafted rookie". ajc.com. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  8. ↑ Caudell, Jackson (August 29, 2023). "Former Georgia Tech linebacker Ace Eley released by the Carolina Panthers". si.com. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  9. ↑ B.C. Lions release Most Outstanding Rookie nominee Ayinde Eley
  10. ↑ REDBLACKS sign American linebacker Ayinde “Ace” Eley
  11. ↑ "As the son of a coach, Maryland LB Ayinde Eley grew to love football. A health scare nearly took it away". baltimoresun.com. September 5, 2019. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  12. ↑ Sugiura, Ken (October 28, 2022). "At last, football brings Georgia Tech's Ayinde Eley and his father together". ajc.com. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
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