Ayo Oyelola
| Pittsburgh Steelers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Safety | ||
| Personal information | |||
| Born: | 19 October 1998[1] London | ||
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||
| Weight: | 213 lb (97 kg) | ||
| Career information | |||
| College: | University of Nottingham | ||
| CFL draft: | 2021G / round: 3 / pick: 22 | ||
| Career history | |||
| |||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||
| Roster status: | Practice squad/international | ||
| CFL status: | Global | ||
| Career CFL statistics | |||
| |||
| Stats at Pro Football Reference | |||
Ayo Oyelola (born 19 October 1998) is an English professional American football player who is a safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL).
Early life
From East London, Oyelola was a soccer player in his youth, and featured in the academy at teams such as Chelsea, Southend United, Dagenham and Redbridge and Ebbsfleet. He started playing American football at the University of Nottingham, where he graduated with a law degree in 2020.[2][3][4]
Career
CFL
He started out as a linebacker before transitioning to safety.[2] He was drafted 22nd in the 2021 CFL global draft by Winnipeg Blue Bombers.[5] He made his debut for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League on 20 November 2021 against the Calgary Stampeders.[6]
NFL
In December 2020, it was announced that Oyelola had been one of eleven athletes from around to world to selected to participate in the NFL International Player Pathway (IPP).[2] He did not secure a contract with an NFL team and decided to play in the CFL. In January 2022 it was announced that he was again selected to be a part of the NFL IPP, this time involving 13 athletes from around the world.[7] He was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars later that year.[4] He was waived by the Jaguars on 30 August 2022.[8] He resigned to their practice squad the next day and spent the remainder of the 2022/203 season on the practice squad.
In January 2023, he signed a futures/ reserve contract with the Jaguars, but was waived again at the conclusion of training camp and resigned to the practice squad, where he spent the remainder of the season.
In January 2024, he signed a futures/ reserve contract with the Jaguars. He was waived on 15 April 2024.
He was signed on an international development contract by the Pittsburgh Steelers in September 2024, and joined their practise squad.[9][10]
References
- ^ "Ayo Oyelola". Fox Sports. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
- ^ a b c Hogwood, Cameron (10 October 2023). "Ayo Oyelola: Jacksonville Jaguars safety embraces crisp British air on UK homecoming". Sky Sports. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
- ^ "UoN graduate signed by National Football League (NFL) team". Nottingham.ac.uk. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
- ^ a b Peach, Simon (15 June 2022). "Ayo Oyelola: Ex-teammate of Mason Mount and Declan Rice with eyes on NFL career". Independent.co.uk. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
- ^ "Winnipeg Blue Bombers sign 2021 CFL Global Draft pick Ayo Oyelola". American Football International. 1 June 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
- ^ Malchow, Alex (23 November 2021). "UK linebacker Ayo Oyelola makes CFL debut with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers". American Football International. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
- ^ Dixon, Andre (11 January 2022). "NFL: THREE BRITISH PLAYERS MAKE THE IPP". Verge Magazine. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
- ^ Barney, Justin (30 August 2022). "Jaguars cuts: Recent draft picks Jay Tufele, Gregory Junior among team's final cuts". news4jax.com. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
- ^ Adamski, Chris (2 September 2024). "Steelers sign British DB Ayo Oyelola to practice squad". Triblive. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
- ^ Gregson, Rob (2 September 2024). "Steelers finalize their roster by taking advantage of one of the NFL's smartest rules". atozsports.com. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
External links
- 1998 births
- Living people
- Sportspeople from London
- English players of American football
- English players of Canadian football
- English expatriate sportspeople in Canada
- English expatriate sportspeople in the United States
- Alumni of the University of Nottingham
- American football safeties
- Black British sportsmen
- Canadian Football League players
- Expatriate players of American football
- International Player Pathway Program participants
- Winnipeg Blue Bombers players