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John Ojo (born March 2, 1990) is a former American football cornerback. He was a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He made his professional debut for the Edmonton Eskimos (CFL) in 2014 after playing college football at Florida A&M University. He has also been a member of the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL).

Early career

Ojo played high school football at Florida State University School (Florida High), where he played as both a receiver and safety. In his senior season, he finished with five touchdowns on offense and six interceptions on defense.

Starting in 2008, Ojo played college football for the Florida A&M Rattlers as a safety. After suffering a broken ankle in his first game with the Rattlers, Ojo received redshirt status and did not play for the rest of the 2008 season. He started at the free safety position for the first time in 2009. He was named to the All Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference first-team in 2011. In the second game of the 2012 season, he received a metatarsophalangeal joint sprain, also known as turf toe, which ended his season. He was again able to obtain redshirt status, preserving his final year of eligibility. Ojo played his last year with the Rattlers in 2013 as a sixth-year senior. He finished his college career with at least 131 tackles, seven interceptions, and six pass break ups.

Professional career

Ojo was eligible for the 2014 NFL draft, but went undrafted. He was invited to try out for the Seattle Seahawks in May 2014, but was not signed to the team.

Edmonton Eskimos

John Ojo was signed by the Edmonton Eskimos (CFL) to their practice squad on October 9 and was released a month later. Ojo was again signed by the Edmonton Eskimos on April 29, 2015. On June 21, Ojo was dropped from the active roster and added to the practice squad among the final round of roster changes in the preseason. He was moved back to the active roster on June 26, and made his CFL debut in the season opener against the Toronto Argonauts on June 27, 2015, where he recorded 2 tackles and recovered a fumble. In the Eskimos' home opener against the Ottawa Redblacks, Ojo caught an interception and returned it 57 yards for a touchdown, adding four tackles. Over the course of the season, Ojo became a more prominent member of the Eskimos defense, eventually contributing 41 tackles, 8 special teams tackles and 5 interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. During preseason Ojo ruptured an Achilles tendon in practice and missed the entire 2016 season. Following the 2016 season he was not re-signed by the Eskimos and became a free agent on February 14, 2017.

As of mid February 2017, Ojo's recovery was set to be completed by the end of March 2017, and he reportedly had up to eight NFL workouts lined up.

New York Jets

On April 7, 2017, Ojo signed with the New York Jets. On May 5, 2017, he was waived by the Jets.

Saskatchewan Roughriders

Ojo returned to the CFL on March 26, 2018, when he signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Ojo was released by the Riders at the start of training camp on May 22, 2018.

References

1. ^ "John Ojo". Florida A&M Rattlers. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
2. ^ Scott, Trevor (December 11, 2012). "John Ojo's Injury Puts Final Season On Hold". Florida A&M Athletics. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
3. Ferrante, Bob (August 28, 2013). "Ex-NFL player Earl Holmes aiming high in first season as coach at alma mater Florida A&M". Palm Beach Post. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
4. Murraine, St. Clair (November 21, 2013). "FAMU seniors hoping to upset Bethune-Cookman in final game". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
5. "John Ojo". Edmonton Eskimos. Archived from the original on July 11, 2015. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
6. Murraine, St. Clair (May 7, 2014). "Former Rattlers eager for NFL draft". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
7. "Seahawks rookie minicamp roster". Seattle Seahawks. May 16, 2014. Archived from the original on July 12, 2015. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
8. "Transactions 2014". CFL.ca. Archived from the original on January 6, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
9. O'Leary, Chris (April 29, 2015). "Edmonton Eskimos sign seven players". Edmonton Journal. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
10. Moddejonge, Gerry (June 20, 2015). "Edmonton Eskimos cut 11 players". Edmonton Sun. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
11. "Transactions". CFL.ca. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
12. "Edmonton Eskimos vs Toronto Argonauts (June 27, 2015)". CFL.ca. Archived from the original on July 3, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
13. Moddejonge, Gerry (July 10, 2015). "Eskimos CB Patrick Watkins earns his first interceptions as a member of the Green and Gold". Edmonton Sun. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
14. "Ottawa Redblacks vs Edmonton Eskimos (July 9, 2015)". CFL.ca. Archived from the original on July 12, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
15. "League all-star John Ojo out for the season, a blow to Eskimos' quest to repeat". Yahoo Sports Canada. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
16. "Report: Free agent Ojo has NFL workouts lined up - Article - TSN". TSN. February 14, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
17. Lange, Randy (April 7, 2017). "Jets Sign Free Agent CB John Ojo". NewYorkJets.com.
18. Greenberg, Ethan (May 6, 2017). "Jets Waive CB John Ojo". NewYorkJets.com.
19. "Ojo returns to CFL with Roughriders - Article - TSN". TSN. March 26, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
20. "Riders release former All-Star DB Ojo - Article - TSN". TSN. May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 22, 2018.

External links

• Florida A&M Rattlers bio

• 1990 births
• Living people
• Players of American football from Tallahassee, Florida
• American football safeties
• Canadian football defensive backs
• Florida A&M Rattlers football players
• Edmonton Elks players
• New York Jets players
• 21st-century African-American sportsmen