Michael Ojemudia
No. 29 – Arizona Cardinals
Position:Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (1997-09-12) September 12, 1997 (age 26)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school:Harrison
(Farmington Hills, Michigan)
College:Iowa (2015–2019)
NFL draft:2020 / Round: 3 / Pick: 77
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Total tackles:73
Forced fumbles:4
Pass deflections:8
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Michael Ojemudia (born September 12, 1997) is an American football cornerback for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Iowa.

College career

Playing high school football at Harrison High School in Farmington Hills, Michigan, Ojemudia committed to Iowa as a linebacker on January 28, 2015, choosing the Hawkeyes over Indiana, Wyoming and Eastern Michigan, who all offered scholarships.[1] Ojemudia was trying to chase in-state scholarship offers from Michigan and Michigan State, but they never came.[2]

After redshirting his freshman year at Iowa, the coaching staff moved Ojemudia from safety to cornerback. Ojemudia played in every game as a redshirt freshman. He broke into the starting lineup occasionally during his sophomore season, and improved his play after a midseason benching.[3] and junior season.[4] He moved into a permanent starting role during his senior season.[5] After his senior season, Ojemudia participated in the 2020 Senior Bowl and 2020 NFL Combine.[2]

Professional career

Pre-draft

Ojemudia declared for the 2020 NFL Draft after his senior season at Iowa. He received an invitation to participate in the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine. Initially, Ojemudia was not high on many experts' draft boards, but he stood out in the Senior Bowl and increased his draft stock. On March 1, 2020, Ojemudia participated in the NFL Combine. At the end of the pre-draft process, most draft experts ultimately projected Ojemudia as a second-round to fifth-round prospect.

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump
6 ft 0+5⁄8 in
(1.84 m) 		200 lb
(91 kg) 		32+1⁄4 in
(0.82 m) 		8+7⁄8 in
(0.23 m)		 4.45 s 1.56 s 2.62 s 4.21 s 6.87 s 36.0 in
(0.91 m)		 10 ft 2 in
(3.10 m)
All values from NFL Combine[6][7]

Denver Broncos

2020 season

Ojemudia was taken in the third round (77th overall) by the Denver Broncos in the 2020 NFL Draft.[8] Heading into his first training camp in the NFL, Ojemudia was a starting cornerback alongside veterans A. J. Bouye and Bryce Callahan. He faced minor competition for his job from third-year veteran Isaac Yiadom. At the conclusion of the Broncos' training camp, head coach Vic Fangio officially named Ojemudia the starting right cornerback in the Broncos' nickel defense.

Ojemudia made his first career start and NFL debut in the Broncos' season-opening loss to the Tennessee Titans. He intercepted a pass in Week 1 that was negated by an unnecessary roughness penalty.[9] In Week 6 of the 2020 season against the New England Patriots, Ojemudia recorded his first career forced fumble on tight end Ryan Izzo which was recovered by the Broncos during the 18–12 win.[10] In Week 15 against the Buffalo Bills, Ojemudia was ejected after punching Bills' wide receiver Gabe Davis. In Week 17 against the Las Vegas Raiders, Ojemudia forced two fumbles that were both recovered by the Broncos defense during the 32–31 loss.[11]

Ojemudia finished his rookie season appearing in all 16 games (11 starts) recording 62 combined tackles, six passes defended, and four forced fumbles while playing in 78% of the defensive snaps.[12]

2021 season

Entering his second training camp in the NFL, Ojemudia was slated to be the fourth cornerback on the depth chart, behind free-agent additions Kyle Fuller and Ronald Darby and incumbent veteran Bryce Callahan. During preseason, however, he was surpassed on the depth chart by first-round rookie Patrick Surtain II. At the conclusion of the preseason, head coach Vic Fangio named Ojemudia the fifth cornerback on the depth chart, behind Kyle Fuller, Ronald Darby, Bryce Callahan, and Patrick Surtain II.

On September 1, 2021, Ojemudia was placed on injured reserve to start the season.[13] He was activated on December 11.[14]

On January 2 in the Broncos' Week 17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, Ojemudia appeared in 15% of the team's defensive snaps as he worked his way back from injury. The following week in the Broncos' season finale against the Kansas City Chiefs, Ojemudia made his first and only start of the season alongside Kyle Fuller and Bryce Callahan. He had a stellar performance that week, recording eight solo tackles, two passes defensed, and almost notching two interceptions against Patrick Mahomes. Overall, Ojemudia finished his sophomore season appearing in 2 games (1 start) and recording eight tackles and two passes defensed while appearing in 59% of the team's defensive snaps over the two games he played in.

2022 season

Heading into the 2022 offseason and training camp, Ojemudia competed for a starting cornerback job against Ronald Darby. At the conclusion of the preseason, head coach Nathaniel Hackett named Ojemudia the fourth cornerback on the depth chart to begin the season, behind Patrick Surtain II, Ronald Darby, and K'Waun Williams. On August 31, Ojemudia was placed on injured reserve to begin the season.[15] He was activated on October 17.[16] He was waived on December 27, 2022.[17]

Chicago Bears

On December 28, 2022, Ojemudia was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Bears.[18] He was waived on August 29, 2023.[19]

Los Angeles Rams

On September 21, 2023, Ojemudia signed with the practice squad of the Los Angeles Rams.[20] He was not signed to a reserve/future contract after the season and thus became a free agent when his practice squad contract expired.[21]

Arizona Cardinals

On January 30, 2024, Ojemudia signed a reserve/future contract with the Arizona Cardinals.[22]

Career statistics

Regular season

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Comb Solo Ast Sck Sfty PD Int Yds Avg Lng TD FF FR
2020 DEN 16 11 62 55 7 0.0 — 6 0 0 0.0 0 0 4 0
2021 DEN 2 1 11 8 3 0.0 — 2 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
Career 18 12 73 63 10 0.0 0 8 0 0 0.0 0 0 4 0

Personal life

Ojemudia's father, Dennis, was born in Nigeria but later moved to the United States and works as an engineer for Ford Motor Company. Michael, a mechanical engineering major at Iowa, also plans to work in the auto industry once his football career is over.[23] Michael's older brother, Mario, played college football at Michigan and currently works as a corporate partnerships associate for the Denver Broncos.[5]

Ojemudia was an all-state track athlete in the 110-meter hurdles in high school.[24]

References

  1. ^ "Michael Ojemudia, Harrison, Outside Linebacker". 247Sports. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Birkett, Dave (February 29, 2020). "Michael Ojemudia (FH Harrison) the latest in long line of overlooked Iowa defensive backs". Detroit Free Press. Gannett. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  3. ^ Dochterman, Scott (March 8, 2020). "Where Iowa's 2020 NFL Draft locks (and longshots) are most likely to land". The Athletic. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  4. ^ "NFL Draft & Combine Profile - Michael Ojemudia". NFL.com. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Dochterman, Scott (March 10, 2020). "How Michael Ojemudia and Geno Stone will try to extend Iowa's DB pipeline to NFL". The Athletic. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  6. ^ "Michael Ojemudia Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  7. ^ "2020 NFL Draft Scout Michael Ojemudia College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  8. ^ DiLalla, Aric (April 24, 2020). "Broncos select CB Michael Ojemudia with the 77th-overall pick". Broncos.com. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  9. ^ Hlafs, Mike (September 15, 2020). "Tristan Wirfs, Michael Ojemudia make good first impressions in NFL games". The Gazette. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  10. ^ "Denver Broncos at New England Patriots - October 18th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2020-10-22.
  11. ^ "Las Vegas Raiders at Denver Broncos - January 3rd, 2021". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
  12. ^ "Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos - December 19th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  13. ^ DiLalla, Aric (September 1, 2021). "Broncos sign DL Shamar Stephen, T Cam Fleming, place RB Mike Boone, CB Michael Ojemudia on IR". DenverBroncos.com.
  14. ^ Swanson, Ben (December 11, 2021). "Broncos activate Bryce Callahan, Michael Ojemudia, Micah Kiser from IR; place Malik Reed on Reserve/COVID-19 list". DenverBroncos.com.
  15. ^ DiLalla, Aric (August 31, 2022). "Broncos sign NT Mike Purcell, TE Eric Tomlinson". DenverBroncos.com.
  16. ^ DiLalla, Aric (October 17, 2022). "Broncos activate S Justin Simmons, TE Greg Dulcich, CB Michael Ojemudia from IR". DenverBroncos.com.
  17. ^ DiLalla, Aric (December 27, 2022). "Broncos waive CB Michael Ojemudia". DenverBroncos.com.
  18. ^ Williams, Charean (December 28, 2022). "Bears claim Michael Ojemudia off waivers, cut Taco Charlton". NBCSports.com.
  19. ^ "Roster Moves: Bears reach NFL's 53-man roster limit". ChicagoBears.com. August 29, 2023.
  20. ^ @RamsNFL (September 21, 2023). "LA Rams Transactions: • Signed to Practice Squad DB Michael Ojemudia" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  21. ^ Jackson, Stu (January 15, 2024). "Rams sign 15 players to Reserve/Future contracts". Los Angeles Rams.
  22. ^ Urban, Darren (January 30, 2024). "Cardinals Sign Cornerback Michael Ojemudia". AZCardinals.com.
  23. ^ Dochterman, Scott (July 16, 2019). "Michael Ojemudia has a passion for football and auto design, and he's chasing a future that will include both". The Athletic. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  24. ^ Brugler, Dane (April 7, 2020). The Athletic's 2020 NFL Draft Guide (PDF). The Athletic. p. 205. Retrieved April 14, 2020.

External links

Denver Broncos 2020 NFL draft selections
Arizona Cardinals roster
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