Akin Ayodele
Encyclopedia
Akinola James "Akin" Ayodele (icon; born September 17, 1979) is an American football
linebacker
who is currently a free agent
. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars
in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Purdue
.
Ayodele has also been a member of the Dallas Cowboys
, Miami Dolphins
, Denver Broncos
, and Buffalo Bills
.
in Irving, Texas
, Ayodele was a three-year starter at defensive end
at Purdue University
, after transferring from Coffeyville Community College
. He finished his career with 194 tackles (131 solo), 29 sacks, five fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles and 11 pass deflections. He was named the Jimmy Rogers, Jr. Most Valuable Lineman at the 2001 Wells Fargo
Sun Bowl
.
Ayodele was named first-team All-Big Ten Conference
as a senior and second-team All-Conference as a sophomore and junior. He is tied with Jeff Zgonina
for second on Purdue's career-record list with 29 sacks, topped only by Rosevelt Colvin
with 33.
, recording his best season in 2003 with 115 total tackles, one sack, and two interceptions.
, and was converted to inside linebacker to help shore up their run defense. Coincidentally, as a child growing up in Irving, Ayodele was a ball boy
for the Cowboys.
to the Miami Dolphins
in exchange for a fourth-round pick (100th Overall) in the 2008 NFL Draft
. He was released on March 5, 2010.
on April 24, 2010. He was assigned number 51 on April 29, 2010. He was then released by the Denver Broncos
on August 24, 2010.
signed Akin Ayodele to take the spot of LB Kawika Mitchell
after the team placed him on IR. He will switch to number 50 with the Bills.
means 'undefeated warrior'. He is the older brother of NFL defensive tackle Remi Ayodele
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft
2002 NFL Draft
The 2002 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft took place April 20–21, 2002 at the theater at...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
.
Ayodele has also been a member of the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
College career
After graduating from MacArthur High SchoolMacArthur High School (Irving, Texas)
MacArthur High school is a public high school in Irving, Texas. It is named for the American General of the Army Douglas MacArthur.In 2009, the school was rated "Academically Acceptable" by the Texas Education Agency. In 2010, the school was rated "Academically Recognized" by the Texas Education...
in Irving, Texas
Irving, Texas
Irving is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas within Dallas County. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city population was 216,290. Irving is within the Dallas–Plano–Irving metropolitan division of the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan area, designated...
, Ayodele was a three-year starter at defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
at Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
, after transferring from Coffeyville Community College
Coffeyville Community College
Coffeyville Community College is a community college located in Coffeyville, Kansas, United States. It was founded in 1923....
. He finished his career with 194 tackles (131 solo), 29 sacks, five fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles and 11 pass deflections. He was named the Jimmy Rogers, Jr. Most Valuable Lineman at the 2001 Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company is an American multinational diversified financial services company with operations around the world. Wells Fargo is the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by assets and the largest bank by market capitalization. Wells Fargo is the second largest bank in deposits, home...
Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl
The Sun Bowl is an annual U.S. college football bowl game that is usually played at the end of December in El Paso, Texas. The Sun Bowl, along with the Sugar Bowl and the Orange Bowl are the second-oldest bowl games in the country, behind the Rose Bowl...
.
Ayodele was named first-team All-Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
as a senior and second-team All-Conference as a sophomore and junior. He is tied with Jeff Zgonina
Jeff Zgonina
Jeffrey Marc "Jeff" Zgonina is an American football defensive tackle for the Houston Texans in the National Football League...
for second on Purdue's career-record list with 29 sacks, topped only by Rosevelt Colvin
Rosevelt Colvin
Rosevelt Colvin, III is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. Drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL Draft, he played college football at Purdue....
with 33.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Ayodele played four seasons at outside linebacker for the JaguarsJacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, recording his best season in 2003 with 115 total tackles, one sack, and two interceptions.
Dallas Cowboys
In 2006, Ayodele signed a five year contract with the Dallas CowboysDallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, and was converted to inside linebacker to help shore up their run defense. Coincidentally, as a child growing up in Irving, Ayodele was a ball boy
Ball Boy
Ball Boy is a comic strip in the UK comic The Beano and also the name of the main character. It first appeared in issue 1735, dated 18 October 1975. It features a five-a-side football team that includes:* Ball Boy - the captain of the team, Ball Boy bears resemblances to The Dandy's Owen Goal...
for the Cowboys.
Miami Dolphins
On April 25, 2008, Ayodele was traded along with tight end Anthony FasanoAnthony Fasano
Anthony Joseph Fasano is an American football tight end for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Notre Dame...
to the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in exchange for a fourth-round pick (100th Overall) in the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
. He was released on March 5, 2010.
Denver Broncos
Ayodele signed with the Denver BroncosDenver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on April 24, 2010. He was assigned number 51 on April 29, 2010. He was then released by the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on August 24, 2010.
Buffalo Bills
On September 10, 2010 the Buffalo BillsBuffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
signed Akin Ayodele to take the spot of LB Kawika Mitchell
Kawika Mitchell
Kawika Uilani Mitchell is an American football linebacker who currently is a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round in the 2003 NFL Draft. He has also been a member of the New York Giants, Buffalo Bills, and New Orleans Saints...
after the team placed him on IR. He will switch to number 50 with the Bills.
Personal
"Akin" is a short name for "Akinola", which in Yoruba languageYoruba language
Yorùbá is a Niger–Congo language spoken in West Africa by approximately 20 million speakers. The native tongue of the Yoruba people, it is spoken, among other languages, in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo and in communities in other parts of Africa, Europe and the Americas...
means 'undefeated warrior'. He is the older brother of NFL defensive tackle Remi Ayodele
Remi Ayodele
Remilekun "Remi" Ayodele is an American football defensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football at Oklahoma.Ayodele has also been a member of the Baltimore Ravens,...
.