Moro Ojomo

Morotoluwa Ojomo (born August 15, 2001) is a Nigerian-born 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.

Moro Ojomo
No. 72 – Philadelphia Eagles
Position:Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (2001-08-15) August 15, 2001
Lagos, Nigeria
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:284 lb (129 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 NFL statistics as of 2023
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early life

Ojomo was born on August 15, 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 span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench 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 May 4.[16]

References

  1. Brugler, Dane. "The Beast: 2023 NFL Draft Guide" (PDF). The Athletic. p. 207. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  2. Power, Charles (August 30, 2018). "Texas' Moro Ojomo may be football's best 17-year-old". 247Sports.
  3. Olson, Max (March 9, 2018). "Underaged and underrecruited, Moro Ojomo could overwhelm at Texas". The Athletic.
  4. "Moro Ojomo NFL Draft 2023: Scouting Report for Texas DL". Bleacher Report. 2023.
  5. "NFL Draft Profile: Moro Ojomo, Defensive Lineman, Texas Longhorns". Sports Illustrated. October 6, 2022.
  6. "Moro Ojomo". Texas Longhorns.
  7. Craven, Mike (February 7, 2018). "Katy defensive tackle to sign with Horns". Austin American-Statesman. p. C3 via Newspapers.com. open access
  8. Coleman, Adam (February 6, 2018). "Katy's Moro Ojomo commits to Texas". Houston Chronicle.
  9. Eberts, Wescott (January 8, 2023). "Texas DL Moro Ojomo declares for the 2023 NFL Draft". Burnt Orange Nation.
  10. Daniel, Cody (August 17, 2021). "Now in a 'perfect situation,' Texas DT Moro Ojomo looks poised to break out". Burnt Orange Nation.
  11. Thompson, Cole (January 8, 2023). "Texas DL Moro Ojomo Declares For 2023 NFL Draft". Sports Illustrated.
  12. Davis, Danny (March 2, 2023). "Texas lineman Moro Ojomo eyes an NFL career, but what goes into prepping for the draft?". Austin American-Statesman via archive.today.
  13. "Moro Ojomo Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  14. Cummings, Ian (February 7, 2023). "Moro Ojomo, DT, Texas | NFL Draft Scouting Report". Pro Football Network.
  15. "NFL Draft picks 2023: Live results, complete list of selections from Rounds 1-7". www.sportingnews.com. 2023-04-21. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
  16. Tolentino, Josh (May 4, 2023). "Eagles sign draft picks Jalen Carter, Tanner McKee, Moro Ojomo". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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