Akin AyodelePosition: LB
Draft Date: 2002
Draft Team: Jacksonville
Born: 09/17/1979
Hometown: Dallas, TX
College: Purdue
Personal Biography
Single ... Lives in Irving, Texas ... Attended MacArthur High in Irving, Texas, where he was First-team All-District as senior as a linebacker and tight end ... Named Jaguars 2003 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee ... Named NFL Extra Effort Award winner for the month of November in 2003 ... Named the 2003 Blue Cross/Blue Shield Community Champion of the Year, where $2,500 was donated to the Muscular Dystrophy Association on his behalf ... Makes regular visits to Wolfson Children's Hospital and local elementary and middle schools ... Actively supports Foundation's Playbooks ... Supports the charitable efforts of his teammates ... Akinola is an African word that means "a warrior who has gone through many wars and has never been defeated" ... Name pronounced: AY-kin AY-dell ... Full name: Akinola James Ayodele.
A warrior
That’s what you are
Never defeated
You’ll continue to go far
Battling on the field
Especially on Sundays
Regardless of snow, rain, wind,
Or even Florida’s burning sun rays
Always a winner
No matter what the scoreboard says
The battle already won
Cause it began and was done
When he kneeled and prayed
With God on his side
He cannot be defeated
No weapons can prosper
That’s why his name is repeated
Akinola
View more of Akin's personal details!
Pro Career
Tackles: 736 (553 full & 183 assists)
Sacks: 9.5
Forced Fumbles: 10
Passes Defended: 22
Interceptions: 7
2010: Played with the Buffalo Bills
2009: Played with the Miami Dolphins
2008: Played with the Miami Dolphins
2007: Started 14 of the 16 games in which he played ... Ranked fourth on the team with 95 tackles ... Added two passes defensed and three tackles on special teams ... Key part of a defense that ranked ninth overall in the NFL (307.6 ypg) and sixth against the run (94.6 ypg) ... Only two games he did not start were when Cowboys did not open in base defense ... Posted a season-high 10 tackles in opener vs. N.Y. Giants (9/9) ... Had nine stops apiece in games vs. New England (10/14) and at Detroit (12/9) ... Started Divisional Playoff Game vs. N.Y. Giants (1/13/08) and recorded six tackles, a figure which tied for second on the team that day.
2006: Ayodele started all 16 regular season games and the NFC Wildcard game for the Cowboys and finished second on the team with 106 tackles; his fifth consecutive season with 100-plus tackles. Tied for the club lead with five tackles for losses and was third with two interceptions. In his Cowboys debut against his former team at Jacksonville (9/10), Ayodele tied for second on the team with seven tackles along with a tackle for a loss while also tying for the team lead with two special teams tackles. In the home opener against Washington (9/17), he tied for the team lead with six tackles, picking up his 500th career tackle, and led the special teams units with two tackles. He once again tied for the team lead in tackles (seven) at Tennessee (10/1), then added five tackles at Philadelphia (10/8) while limiting the Eagles to just 52 yards rushing on 18 carries. Ayodele had five tackles against Houston (10/15), before tying his season high with seven stops, limiting Eli Manning to a 46.2 completion percentage on Monday night against the N.Y. Giants (10/23). He picked up three tackles along with his first sack of the season while limiting DeShaun Foster to 50 yards rushing on 15 carries at Carolina (10/29). With six tackles, Ayodele tied for the team lead and added a fumble recovery on a botched snap to set up a Dallas field goal drive at Washington (11/5). At Arizona (11/12) Ayodele picked off his first pass of the season to go along with seven tackles. The interception set up a Dallas touchdown. Against previously undefeated Indianapolis (11/19), he tied for the team lead with seven tackles before picking off his second interception of the season in the Thanksgiving Day game against Tampa Bay (11/23). He also finished second on the team with six tackles as the Bucs were limited to 211 total yards, including just 28 in the second half. At the N.Y. Giants (12/3), Ayodele led the team with a season-high 12 tackles while also adding a tackle for a loss and a quarterback pressure. He had five tackles and a pass deflection against New Orleans (12/10) before pacing the team with nine stops and a fumble recovery at Atlanta (12/16). He had five tackles and one for a loss on Christmas Day against Philadelphia (12/25) before closing out the season third on the team with nine tackles and a tackle for a loss against Detroit (12/31). In the Wildcard Playoff game at Seattle (1/6/07), Ayodele was second on the team with eight tackles along with one for a los
2005: Ayodele played in all 16 games and in the AFC Wildcard game and recorded 100 tackles and a team-high four forced fumbles. In the season opener against Seattle (9/11) he had four tackles and a forced fumble and sack on a fourth-quarter takedown of quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. At Indianapolis (9/18) he had eight tackles and recorded his 400 th career stop. At the New York Jets (9/25) he finished with three tackles and one tackle for a loss before posting 12 tackles against Denver (10/2). Against Cincinnati (10/9) he made six stops with a season-high two tackles for loss and recovered a Carson Palmer fumble to seal the victory. At Pittsburgh (10/16) he had seven stops and one forced fumble, posted six tackles at St. Louis (10/30) and another five tackles against Houston (11/6). Against Baltimore (11/13) he three tackles and one quarterback pressure and another quarterback pressure and five tackles at Tennessee (11/20). At Arizona (11/27) posted seven tackles, 1.5 sacks and forced a Kurt Warner fumble on the final drive to end the game. Posted eight tackles at Cleveland (12/4) and finished second on the team with a season-high 15 tackles and one tackle for a loss against Indianapolis (12/11). Against San Francisco (12/18) again finished second on the team with seven tackles before recording one tackle at Houston (12/24). At Tennessee (1/2) he had three tackles and one forced fumble and recorded eight tackles and one tackle for a loss at New England (1/7) in the AFC Wildcard game.
2004: Ranked second on the team for the second consecutive season with 131 tackles (82 solo), surpassing 100 tackles for the third consecutive season … Tallied two sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and blocked one field goal … In the season opener recorded eight tackles (six solo) and one forced fumble Sept. 12 at Buffalo … Recovered one fumble with eight tackles (six solo) Sept. 19 against Denver … Made nine tackles (seven solo) Oct. 10 at San Diego … Had career game on Oct. 17 against Kansas City with team highs of two sacks (of Trent Green) and 15 tackles (nine solo) … Collected second double-digit tackle total of season on Nov. 14 against Detroit with 11 tackles (six solo) … Recorded first career blocked field goal (of Kris Brown) in regular-season home finale Dec. 26 against Houston … Recorded eight tackles and one for a loss Dec. 12 vs. Chicago … Finished season with nine tackles (six solo) Jan. 2 at Oakland.
2003: Ranked second on the team with a career-high 150 tackles (97 solo), surpassing 100 tackles for second straight year ... Notched two interceptions and three fumble recoveries for five takeaways, tied for third most in a season in team history. Tied for third in AFC among defensive players with three fumble recoveries.
2002: Finished rookie season fourth on team with 108 tackles (51 solo) and second in special teams tackles with 13 (tied) ... Marked only fifth rookie in Jaguars history to make 100 tackles on defense ... Played in all 16 games, making three starts at strongside linebacker ... Also saw considerable playing time as a rush end on passing downs ... Added three sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles, two passes defensed, one tackle for loss and led team with 13 QB pressures.
College Career
Three-year starter as a rush end … Named first-team All-Big Ten as a senior and second-team All-Conference as a sophomore and junior … Tied with Jeff Zgonina (1989-92) for second on school’s career-record list with 29 sacks, topped only by Roosevelt Colvin (33, 1995-98) … Ranks fourth on school list with 54 tackles behind the line, surpassed only by Keena Turner (58, 1976-79), Colvin (61) and Zgonina (72) … Finished his career with 194 tackles (131 solo), five fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles and 11 pass deflections … Played in three bowl games: 2001 Sun, 2000 Rose and 1999 Outback … All-Big Ten first-team selection and team Most Valuable Player as a senior in 2001 … Started every game at strongside defensive end … Ranked second in the conference with nine sacks and 20 tackles for loss (and sixth on school’s season list) … Recorded 64 tackles (48 solo) with two fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles, and deflected four passes … Second-team All-Big Ten selection by both league’s coaches and media as a junior … Second on team with two interceptions and tied for third with six pass deflections … Recorded 66 tackles (38 solo) with two fumble recoveries … Second-team All-Big Ten Conference choice by the media, adding honorable mention from coaches as a sophomore… Started every game at right defensive end, making 64 tackles (45 solo) with 11 sacks and 19 tackles for loss … Only Roosevelt Colvin (12.5 in 1997 and 15 in 1998) and Jeff Zgonina (13 in 1992) had more sacks in a season … Named second-team All-America and Mission Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a redshirt freshman at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College … Totaled 101 tackles, with seven sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
2006: Ayodele started all 16 regular season games and the NFC Wildcard game for the Cowboys and finished second on the team with 106 tackles; his fifth consecutive season with 100-plus tackles. Tied for the club lead with five tackles for losses and was third with two interceptions. In his Cowboys debut against his former team at Jacksonville (9/10), Ayodele tied for second on the team with seven tackles along with a tackle for a loss while also tying for the team lead with two special teams tackles. In the home opener against Washington (9/17), he tied for the team lead with six tackles, picking up his 500th career tackle, and led the special teams units with two tackles. He once again tied for the team lead in tackles (seven) at Tennessee (10/1), then added five tackles at Philadelphia (10/8) while limiting the Eagles to just 52 yards rushing on 18 carries. Ayodele had five tackles against Houston (10/15), before tying his season high with seven stops, limiting Eli Manning to a 46.2 completion percentage on Monday night against the N.Y. Giants (10/23). He picked up three tackles along with his first sack of the season while limiting DeShaun Foster to 50 yards rushing on 15 carries at Carolina (10/29). With six tackles, Ayodele tied for the team lead and added a fumble recovery on a botched snap to set up a Dallas field goal drive at Washington (11/5). At Arizona (11/12) Ayodele picked off his first pass of the season to go along with seven tackles. The interception set up a Dallas touchdown. Against previously undefeated Indianapolis (11/19), he tied for the team lead with seven tackles before picking off his second interception of the season in the Thanksgiving Day game against Tampa Bay (11/23). He also finished second on the team with six tackles as the Bucs were limited to 211 total yards, including just 28 in the second half. At the N.Y. Giants (12/3), Ayodele led the team with a season-high 12 tackles while also adding a tackle for a loss and a quarterback pressure. He had five tackles and a pass deflection against New Orleans (12/10) before pacing the team with nine stops and a fumble recovery at Atlanta (12/16). He had five tackles and one for a loss on Christmas Day against Philadelphia (12/25) before closing out the season third on the team with nine tackles and a tackle for a loss against Detroit (12/31). In the Wildcard Playoff game at Seattle (1/6/07), Ayodele was second on the team with eight tackles along with one for a los
2005: Ayodele played in all 16 games and in the AFC Wildcard game and recorded 100 tackles and a team-high four forced fumbles. In the season opener against Seattle (9/11) he had four tackles and a forced fumble and sack on a fourth-quarter takedown of quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. At Indianapolis (9/18) he had eight tackles and recorded his 400 th career stop. At the New York Jets (9/25) he finished with three tackles and one tackle for a loss before posting 12 tackles against Denver (10/2). Against Cincinnati (10/9) he made six stops with a season-high two tackles for loss and recovered a Carson Palmer fumble to seal the victory. At Pittsburgh (10/16) he had seven stops and one forced fumble, posted six tackles at St. Louis (10/30) and another five tackles against Houston (11/6). Against Baltimore (11/13) he three tackles and one quarterback pressure and another quarterback pressure and five tackles at Tennessee (11/20). At Arizona (11/27) posted seven tackles, 1.5 sacks and forced a Kurt Warner fumble on the final drive to end the game. Posted eight tackles at Cleveland (12/4) and finished second on the team with a season-high 15 tackles and one tackle for a loss against Indianapolis (12/11). Against San Francisco (12/18) again finished second on the team with seven tackles before recording one tackle at Houston (12/24). At Tennessee (1/2) he had three tackles and one forced fumble and recorded eight tackles and one tackle for a loss at New England (1/7) in the AFC Wildcard game.
2004: Ranked second on the team for the second consecutive season with 131 tackles (82 solo), surpassing 100 tackles for the third consecutive season … Tallied two sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and blocked one field goal … In the season opener recorded eight tackles (six solo) and one forced fumble Sept. 12 at Buffalo … Recovered one fumble with eight tackles (six solo) Sept. 19 against Denver … Made nine tackles (seven solo) Oct. 10 at San Diego … Had career game on Oct. 17 against Kansas City with team highs of two sacks (of Trent Green) and 15 tackles (nine solo) … Collected second double-digit tackle total of season on Nov. 14 against Detroit with 11 tackles (six solo) … Recorded first career blocked field goal (of Kris Brown) in regular-season home finale Dec. 26 against Houston … Recorded eight tackles and one for a loss Dec. 12 vs. Chicago … Finished season with nine tackles (six solo) Jan. 2 at Oakland.
2003: Ranked second on the team with a career-high 150 tackles (97 solo), surpassing 100 tackles for second straight year ... Notched two interceptions and three fumble recoveries for five takeaways, tied for third most in a season in team history. Tied for third in AFC among defensive players with three fumble recoveries.
2002: Finished rookie season fourth on team with 108 tackles (51 solo) and second in special teams tackles with 13 (tied) ... Marked only fifth rookie in Jaguars history to make 100 tackles on defense ... Played in all 16 games, making three starts at strongside linebacker ... Also saw considerable playing time as a rush end on passing downs ... Added three sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles, two passes defensed, one tackle for loss and led team with 13 QB pressures.
College Career
Three-year starter as a rush end … Named first-team All-Big Ten as a senior and second-team All-Conference as a sophomore and junior … Tied with Jeff Zgonina (1989-92) for second on school’s career-record list with 29 sacks, topped only by Roosevelt Colvin (33, 1995-98) … Ranks fourth on school list with 54 tackles behind the line, surpassed only by Keena Turner (58, 1976-79), Colvin (61) and Zgonina (72) … Finished his career with 194 tackles (131 solo), five fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles and 11 pass deflections … Played in three bowl games: 2001 Sun, 2000 Rose and 1999 Outback … All-Big Ten first-team selection and team Most Valuable Player as a senior in 2001 … Started every game at strongside defensive end … Ranked second in the conference with nine sacks and 20 tackles for loss (and sixth on school’s season list) … Recorded 64 tackles (48 solo) with two fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles, and deflected four passes … Second-team All-Big Ten selection by both league’s coaches and media as a junior … Second on team with two interceptions and tied for third with six pass deflections … Recorded 66 tackles (38 solo) with two fumble recoveries … Second-team All-Big Ten Conference choice by the media, adding honorable mention from coaches as a sophomore… Started every game at right defensive end, making 64 tackles (45 solo) with 11 sacks and 19 tackles for loss … Only Roosevelt Colvin (12.5 in 1997 and 15 in 1998) and Jeff Zgonina (13 in 1992) had more sacks in a season … Named second-team All-America and Mission Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a redshirt freshman at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College … Totaled 101 tackles, with seven sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.