Moro Ojomo

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.

Early life

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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

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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

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 2+5⁄8 in
(1.90 m) 		292 lb
(132 kg) 		34+1⁄2 in
(0.88 m) 		10+3⁄8 in
(0.26 m)		 5.04 s 1.77 s 2.88 s 4.60 s 7.45 s 33.0 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]

References

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  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. ^ a b c d e f g 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. ^ a b c "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 icon
  8. ^ Coleman, Adam (6 February 2018). "Katy's Moro Ojomo commits to Texas". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b 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.
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