Foyesade Oluokun
refer to caption
Foyesade Oluokun in 2021
No. 23 – Jacksonville Jaguars
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1995-08-02) August 2, 1995
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:229 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High school:John Burroughs
(Ladue, Missouri)
College:Yale (2013–2017)
NFL Draft:2018 / Round: 6 / Pick: 200
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
NFL Records
  • Most combined tackles in an NFL season
Career NFL statistics as of Week 18, 2023
Total tackles:819
Sacks:9.5
Forced fumbles:10
Fumble recoveries:6
Interceptions:6
Pass deflections:22
Defensive touchdowns:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Foyesade Oluokun (born August 2, 1995) is an American football linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Yale, and was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He is notable for his proficient tackling ability, leading the NFL in total tackles for two straight seasons (2021 and 2022).[1]

Early life

Oluokun attended Forsyth School, an elementary school in Clayton, Missouri, where he played basketball, soccer and other outdoor activities. He began playing football at John Burroughs School,[2] where he was a standout on special teams with future Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott.[3]

College career

Oluokun played college football for Yale. He tore a pectoral muscle as a junior and was granted an extra semester.[4] As a senior, he was a second-team all-Ivy League selection. He received a degree in economics from Yale,[5] and declared for the 2018 NFL Draft after the 2017 season. Oluokun noted that NFL front offices tend to assume that Ivy League players are a lower caliber of athletes, requiring him to work harder to prove his ability to play professionally.[5]

Professional career

Pre-draft

Oluokun did not receive an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine. On March 8, 2018, Oluokun participated at a Pro Day held at Yale and completed all of the combine drills. Oluokun's time of 4.48 in the 40-yard dash would’ve finished sixth among linebackers at the combine and his time of 4.12 in the short shuttle would’ve been the second-best among linebackers. Oluokun attended pre-draft visits with multiple teams, including the Kansas City Chiefs, Arizona Cardinals, and Indianapolis Colts.[6] At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, Oluokun was projected to be a seventh round pick by the majority of NFL draft experts and scouts. He was ranked as the 20th best linebacker in the draft by DraftScout.com.[7]

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 1+7⁄8 in
(1.88 m)		 229 lb
(104 kg)		 32+1⁄2 in
(0.83 m)		 8+3⁄4 in
(0.22 m)		4.48 s1.60 s2.69 s4.12 s6.94 s37 in
(0.94 m)		10 ft 3 in
(3.12 m)		18 reps
All values from Pro Day[7]

Atlanta Falcons

External videos
video icon Falcons draft Foyesade Oluokun 200th overall

2018 season

The Atlanta Falcons selected Oluokun in the sixth round with the 200th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.[8] Oluokun was the 27th linebacker drafted in 2018.[9] Oluokun was the 48th Yale player picked in a professional football draft and the first in the NFL Draft since Shane Bannon in 2011.[10] On May 9, 2018, the Falcons signed Oluokun to a four-year, $2.60 million contract with a signing bonus of $146,629.[11]

Oluokun entered training camp slated to be a backup linebacker and special teams player.[12] He impressed coaches with his athleticism and tackling ability during camp and began competing against Duke Riley to be the starting weakside linebacker.[13] Head coach Dan Quinn named Oluokun a backup middle linebacker, behind Deion Jones, to begin the regular season.[14]

He made his professional regular season debut in the Falcons' season-opener at the Philadelphia Eagles and made one tackle during their 18–12 loss. On October 7, 2018, Oluokun earned his first career start and recorded five combined tackles as the Falcons lost 41–17 at the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 5. In Week 6, he collected a season-high ten combined tackles (seven solo) during a 34–29 victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He finished his rookie season in 2018 with 91 combined tackles (56 solo), one pass deflection, and one forced fumble in 16 games and seven starts.[15] He received an overall grade of 64.6 from Pro Football Focus, 46th among qualifying linebackers in 2018.[16]

Oluokun in 2019

2019 season

Oluokun was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Falcons on August 2, 2020,[17] and was activated three days later.[18]

2020 season

In Week 2 of the 2020 season against the Dallas Cowboys, Oluokun forced two fumbles on consecutive drives in the first quarter; both were recovered by the Falcons, who lost 40–39.[19]

In Week 6 against the Minnesota Vikings, Oluokun recorded his first career interception off a pass thrown by Kirk Cousins during the 40–23 win.[20] In Week 9 against the Denver Broncos, Oluokun recorded 10 tackles, one pass deflection, and recorded his first career sack on Drew Lock during the 34–27 win. Oluokun was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week.[21]

In Week 12 against the Las Vegas Raiders, Oluokun strip-sacked Derek Carr; the ball was recovered by teammate Jacob Tuioti-Mariner during the 43–6 win.[22] In Week 16 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Oluokun intercepted a pass thrown by Patrick Mahomes and made a 51-yard return during the 17–14 loss.[23]

2021 season

Before the season began, new head coach Arthur Smith moved Oluokun to the starting MIKE linebacker position.[24]

In Week 3 against the New York Giants, Oluokun recorded 14 tackles in the 17–14 win.[25] In Week 6 against the Miami Dolphins, Oluokun recorded 13 tackles and an interception in the 30–28 win.[26] In Week 7 against the Carolina Panthers, Oluokun had a career-high 16 tackles in the 13–19 loss.[27]

In Week 16, Oluokun had 14 tackles and intercepted Tim Boyle with less than 40 seconds left, sealing a 20–16 win over the Detroit Lions. His performance earned him NFC Defensive Player of the Week.[28] In Week 17, Oluokun Had 13 total tackles, 2 pass deflections, and intercepted Josh Allen in the 15–29 loss to the Buffalo Bills.[29] He led the league in tackles, the 7th most single season tackles in NFL history.[30][31]

Jacksonville Jaguars

On March 16, 2022, Oluokun signed a three-year, $45 million deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars.[32]

Oluokun led the NFL in tackles in 2022 for the second straight year.[33]

NFL career statistics

Legend
NFL record
Led the league
Bold Career high

Regular season

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstTfLSckPDIntYdsLngTDFFFRYdsTD
2018ATL 16791563520.0100001000
2019ATL 16362362620.0000001000
2020ATL 1514117783943.042655104100
2021ATL 17171921029042.063805601000
2022 JAX 17 17 184 128 56 12 2.0 5 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0
Career8158646400246247.01651455609300

Personal life

The son of immigrants, he is of Nigerian descent.[34]

References

  1. ↑ "NFL Tackles Combined Year-by-Year Leaders". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Foyesade Oluokun, John Burroughs School , Safety". 247Sports. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  3. ↑ "How Ezekiel Elliott, Foyesade Oluokun once paired to make 'video game' plays with 'cheat code'". ESPN.com. September 18, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  4. ↑ McClure, Vaughn (May 18, 2018). "Falcons' Foyesade Oluokun out to validate Ivy Leaguers in NFL". ESPN. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  5. 1 2 McClure, Vaughn (May 18, 2018). "Falcons' Foyesade Oluokun out to validate Ivy Leaguers in NFL". ESPN.
  6. ↑ Jacobs, Jeff (April 21, 2018). "Oluokun could follow Yale's dream season to NFL draft". ctpost.com. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  7. 1 2 "Foyesade Oluokun, Yale, OLB, 2018 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". DraftScout.com. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  8. ↑ "2018 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Falcons Select Foyesade Oluokun". AtlantaFalcons.com. April 28, 2018. Archived from the original on May 1, 2018. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Yale Drafted Players/Alumni". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Spotrac.com: Foyesade Oluokun contract". Spotrac.com. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  12. ↑ McClure, Vaughn (August 22, 2018). "Calvin Ridley as good as advertised so far for Falcons". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  13. ↑ VanDyke, Gary (August 24, 2018). "Foyesade Oluokun emerging as starting option". fantasypros.com. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  14. ↑ Parks, James (September 14, 2018). "Falcons reveal depth chart vs. Panthers". 247sports.com. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  15. ↑ "Foyesade Oluokun 2018 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Pro Football Focus: Foyesade Oluokun". profootballfocus.com. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  17. ↑ McFadden, Will (August 2, 2020). "Falcons place Foye Oluokun on reserve/COVID-19 list, release Ryan Allen, waive four others". AtlantaFalcons.com. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  18. ↑ McFadden, Will (August 5, 2020). "Falcons activate three players from reserve/COVID-19 list". AtlantaFalcons.com. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  19. ↑ "Cowboys' rally stuns Falcons 40-39 in McCarthy's home debut". ESPN.com. Associated Press. September 20, 2020. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings – October 18th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  21. ↑ Gordon, Grant (November 11, 2020). "Vikings RB Dalvin Cook, Bills QB Josh Allen lead Players of the Week". NFL.com. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  22. ↑ "Las Vegas Raiders at Atlanta Falcons – November 29th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  23. ↑ "Atlanta Falcons at Kansas City Chiefs - December 27th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  24. ↑ Glaze, Everett (August 11, 2021). "Why moving Foye Oluokun to the MIKE is good for the defense". The Falcoholic. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  25. ↑ "Atlanta Falcons at New York Giants - September 26th, 2021". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  26. ↑ "Atlanta Falcons at Miami Dolphins - October 24th, 2021". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  27. ↑ "Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons - October 31st, 2021". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  28. ↑ Baca, Michael (December 29, 2021). "Bengals QB Joe Burrow, Cowboys QB Dak Prescott lead NFL Players of the Week". NFL.com. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  29. ↑ "Falcons' Foyesade Oluokun: Another monster performance". CBSSports.com. January 4, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  30. ↑ Birchfield, Evan (January 10, 2022). "Foye Oluokun finishes 2021 season with 7th most single-season tackles in NFL history". The Falcoholic. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  31. ↑ "NFL.com | Official Site of the National Football League". NFL.com. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  32. ↑ Oehser, John (March 16, 2022). "Official: Oluokun agrees to terms". Jaguars.com. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  33. ↑ "Foyesade Oluokun Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  34. ↑ Baugh, Peter (June 13, 2013). "Burroughs standout bound for Yale". The St. Louis American. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
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