**FROM BULLDOG STAR TO EAGLES FORCE: Former All-SEC Standout and Peach Bowl MVP Azeez Ojulari Eyes Breakout After Giants Stint**
Azeez Ojulari’s football journey is a compelling narrative of raw talent, relentless determination, and a steady climb through the unforgiving ranks of elite competition. From his days as a disruptive force on the Georgia Bulldogs’ defensive line to his current place on the Philadelphia Eagles’ roster, Ojulari has remained a model of perseverance and potential. In 2020, he was one of the most dominant edge rushers in the SEC, earning All-SEC honors with his explosive playmaking and relentless motor. By the time the 2021 Peach Bowl rolled around, he had cemented his status as a game-changer, earning Defensive MVP honors in what would be his final collegiate performance. Selected with the 50th overall pick in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the New York Giants, Ojulari entered the league with expectations as high as his upside. Four seasons later, after flashes of brilliance and moments of adversity in New York, he’s now looking to tap into his full potential with the Philadelphia Eagles.
At Georgia, Ojulari was known for being one of the most feared edge rushers in the SEC. Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 240 pounds, he blended agility, burst, and power in a way that allowed him to routinely beat offensive tackles off the edge. In his redshirt sophomore season in 2020, he recorded 9.5 sacks, 12.5 tackles for loss, and four forced fumbles, statistics that only begin to tell the story of his impact. He consistently made life miserable for opposing quarterbacks and offensive coordinators. What made Ojulari such a special prospect wasn’t just his statistics—it was the way he showed up in big games. In the 2021 Peach Bowl against Cincinnati, he put on a performance for the ages, racking up three sacks and a forced fumble, earning Defensive MVP honors and sealing his status as a first-round caliber prospect.
Yet the NFL can be a crucible, and like many rookies, Ojulari faced a steep learning curve. Drafted by the Giants in the second round, he arrived in New York with immense promise and quickly made his presence felt. His rookie season in 2021 was a bright spot on a struggling Giants defense, as he led the team with eight sacks—a franchise rookie record. He showcased the same explosive first step and relentless energy that had defined his college career, and it appeared he was well on his way to becoming a cornerstone of the Giants’ defensive rebuild.
But professional football is often a game of survival, not just success. Over the next few seasons, injuries and inconsistency hampered Ojulari’s development. While he flashed his potential in spurts, including a strong stretch in late 2022 where he logged five sacks over a span of four games, he struggled to stay on the field consistently. The nagging injuries, particularly to his calf and ankle, limited his availability and disrupted his ability to build rhythm and momentum. In a league that prizes both durability and production, Ojulari found himself battling not just opponents, but his own body.
Despite these challenges, those who followed Ojulari closely never doubted his talent. The Giants coaching staff often spoke highly of his character, work ethic, and potential. And when he was on the field, his pass-rushing skillset—marked by quick hands, excellent bend around the edge, and a natural feel for timing—was evident. But the NFL is a business, and with the Giants continuing to shuffle their roster under new regimes and philosophies, Ojulari eventually found himself on the move.
The Philadelphia Eagles, always opportunistic in acquiring high-upside talent, saw value in bringing in Ojulari. For a team with championship aspirations and a culture built around dominant defensive line play, the move made sense. In Philadelphia, Ojulari joins a defensive front loaded with veterans and emerging stars alike, from Haason Reddick to Jalen Carter to Josh Sweat. But far from being lost in the mix, Ojulari has a golden opportunity to carve out a role in a rotation that thrives on disruption and depth.
What makes Philadelphia a particularly exciting fit for Ojulari is the Eagles’ scheme and coaching philosophy. Under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, the Eagles are expected to continue deploying a multiple-front defense that emphasizes pressure from various angles, allowing edge rushers like Ojulari to exploit mismatches and get after the quarterback. Fangio’s history of maximizing the talents of athletic, versatile defenders bodes well for a player like Ojulari, whose physical traits and high football IQ make him a natural fit for creative defensive packages.
There is also a certain intangible benefit to Ojulari’s move to Philadelphia. The change of scenery, combined with a fresh start on a contending team, could be the exact spark he needs to unlock the next stage of his development. After four years in New York filled with both promise and pain, Ojulari is now surrounded by a culture that embraces physicality, aggression, and accountability—traits that align perfectly with his own approach to the game.
Philadelphia’s depth along the defensive line will allow Ojulari to play more situational snaps early on, potentially preserving his health and allowing him to focus on honing specific parts of his game. He won’t be asked to shoulder the load as the primary edge rusher, but rather to be a dynamic part of a fearsome wave. In this kind of environment, Ojulari could thrive, using his explosiveness and motor to become a third-down specialist and gradually work his way into a larger role.
From a mental standpoint, Ojulari’s maturity and leadership are well-regarded. He comes from a strong football family—his younger brother, BJ Ojulari, is also an NFL pass rusher with the Arizona Cardinals—and he has consistently shown a professional approach to preparation and recovery. That mental resilience will serve him well in Philadelphia, where expectations are high and competition is fierce. But Ojulari has never been one to shy away from the moment. If anything, he’s at his best when the lights are brightest.
Looking ahead, the 2025 season could be a pivotal one for Ojulari. He enters a contract year with something to prove—not just to the Eagles or the rest of the league, but to himself. The flashes of dominance are there on tape. The pedigree, the motor, the technique—they’ve never been in doubt. What remains is putting it all together over a full, healthy season. If he can stay on the field and produce, Ojulari has the potential to become one of the league’s most dangerous rotational pass rushers.
In the broader context of his career, Azeez Ojulari’s journey is a testament to the challenges and triumphs that define life in the NFL. From a standout at Marietta High School in Georgia to a dominant force in the SEC, and from a promising rookie in New York to a high-upside addition in Philadelphia, he has navigated each chapter with resilience and resolve. While injuries and circumstances have slowed his rise, they have not derailed it. With the Eagles, he now finds himself in a position to rewrite the narrative—and potentially emerge as one of the league’s most compelling comeback stories.
What makes Ojulari so intriguing is that he’s still just 24 years old. For all the mileage he’s accumulated, he remains a young player with untapped potential. In the modern NFL, where edge rushers are among the most coveted assets, a healthy and focused Ojulari could become a game-changer once again. Whether it’s bending around the edge for a crucial sack, forcing a game-altering turnover, or simply being a constant source of disruption, his skill set fits exactly what the Eagles covet on defense.
Time will tell how the next chapter unfolds, but one thing is clear: Azeez Ojulari’s story is far from over. In fact, with a new home, a new opportunity, and the same hunger that’s driven him from the beginning, it may just be getting started. The Eagles are betting on his talent, and Ojulari is betting on himself. If all goes right, the former Bulldog star could soon become a force to be reckoned with in midnight green.
