Moro Ojomo

Last updated

Moro Ojomo
No. 97 – Philadelphia Eagles
Position: Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (2001-08-15) 15 August 2001 (age 23)
Lagos, Nigeria
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:292 lb (132 kg)
Career information
High school: Katy
(Katy, Texas)
College: Texas (2018–2022)
NFL draft: 2023  / round: 7 / pick: 249
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
  • Second-team All-Big 12 (2022)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 7, 2024
Total tackles:6
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Morotoluwa Ojomo (born 15 August 2001) is a Nigerian professional American football defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). A native of Lagos, he moved to the United States in 2009 and played college football at Texas.

Contents

Early life

Ojomo was born on 15 August 2001, in Lagos, Nigeria. [1] [2] He began primary school at age three, and his family moved to California in 2009. [3] His father is a pastor and his mother worked for an information technology company. [3] While in seventh grade, his family moved again, this time to Houston, Texas. [3] [4] [5] Ojomo attended Katy High School, being two years younger than most of his classmates due to having started his education at 3 in his home country. [3] He did not play varsity football as a freshman or as a sophomore, and additionally said that he had not figured out how to workout by that time. [3] However, following his sophomore year, he began getting serious with weight training and running, and made the varsity team as a junior, eventually earning All-District honors as a defensive lineman at the end of the year. [3]

Ojomo became a highly-regarded recruit following his senior year, during which he led a defense that allowed under eight points-per-game, while recording eight sacks, 15 tackles-for-loss, three forced fumbles and two recoveries. [6] He was a unanimous first-team All-District selection, was named the defensive most valuable player of the district, and was named second-team all-state. [6] 247Sports ranked him one of the top-300 recruits nationally, as well as the 36th-best in Texas, and the 25th-best defensive tackle overall. [6] Ojomo was a three-star recruit and received numerous Division I offers, including from Notre Dame, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Alabama and Miami, among others. [3] [7] He eventually accepted an offer from Texas. [8]

College career

Ojomo was only 16 when he enrolled at Texas, and as a true freshman redshirted while appearing in three late-season games, including the conference championship game. [9] He saw his first time as a starter in the 2019 season, appearing in all 13 games with two starts, and posted 13 tackles, including 2.5 for a loss, and one fumble recovery. [9] The following year, in a season shortened by COVID-19, Ojomo became a full-time starter and made 21 tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss, two sacks, three quarterback hurries, and one pass breakup. [9]

Ojomo remained a starter during the 2021 season and, despite being under a new coaching staff, earned honorable mention All-Big 12 Conference after recording 29 tackles, three of which were for a loss, in addition to three quarterback hits and one pass breakup. [9] [10] As a fifth-year senior in 2022, he recorded career-highs with 32 tackles, 5.5 for a loss, and three sacks. [11] Although given one remaining year of eligibility, Ojomo opted to declare for the 2023 NFL draft and thus finished his five-season stint at Texas with 50 total games played, 95 tackles and five sacks. [12]

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 2+58 in
(1.90 m)
292 lb
(132 kg)
34+12 in
(0.88 m)
10+38 in
(0.26 m)
5.04 s1.77 s2.88 s4.60 s7.45 s33.0 in
(0.84 m)
9 ft 4 in
(2.84 m)
29 reps
Sources: [13]

Ojomo was one of five Texas players to be invited to the 2023 NFL Combine. [12] [14] He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the seventh round (249th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft. [15] He signed his rookie contract on 4 May. [16] During week 17 Ojomo recorded his first tackle against the Arizona Cardinals. [17]

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References

  1. Brugler, Dane. "The Beast: 2023 NFL Draft Guide" (PDF). The Athletic . p. 207. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  2. Power, Charles (30 August 2018). "Texas' Moro Ojomo may be football's best 17-year-old". 247Sports . Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Olson, Max (9 March 2018). "Underaged and underrecruited, Moro Ojomo could overwhelm at Texas" . The Athletic . Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  4. Holder, Matt (21 March 2023). "Moro Ojomo NFL Draft 2023: Scouting Report for Texas DL". Bleacher Report . Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  5. "NFL Draft Profile: Moro Ojomo, Defensive Lineman, Texas Longhorns". Sports Illustrated . 6 October 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 "Moro Ojomo". Texas Longhorns . Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  7. Craven, Mike (7 February 2018). "Katy defensive tackle to sign with Horns". Austin American-Statesman . p. C3. Retrieved 2 July 2023 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  8. Coleman, Adam (6 February 2018). "Katy's Moro Ojomo commits to Texas". Houston Chronicle . Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Eberts, Wescott (8 January 2023). "Texas DL Moro Ojomo declares for the 2023 NFL Draft". Burnt Orange Nation . Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  10. Daniel, Cody (17 August 2021). "Now in a 'perfect situation,' Texas DT Moro Ojomo looks poised to break out". Burnt Orange Nation . Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  11. Thompson, Cole (8 January 2023). "Texas DL Moro Ojomo Declares For 2023 NFL Draft". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  12. 1 2 Davis, Danny (2 March 2023). "Texas lineman Moro Ojomo eyes an NFL career, but what goes into prepping for the draft?". Austin American-Statesman . Archived from the original on 2 March 2023 via archive.today.
  13. "Moro Ojomo Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  14. Cummings, Ian (7 February 2023). "Moro Ojomo, DT, Texas | NFL Draft Scouting Report". Pro Football Network. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  15. Brinkerhoff, Nick (21 April 2023). "NFL Draft picks 2023: Live results, complete list of selections from Rounds 1-7". Sporting News. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  16. Tolentino, Josh (4 May 2023). "Eagles sign draft picks Jalen Carter, Tanner McKee, Moro Ojomo". The Philadelphia Inquirer . Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  17. "Moro Ojomo 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 11 March 2024.