Jeremiah Attaochu
Jeremiah Ojimaojo Attaochu (born January 17, 1993) is a Nigerian born American football outside linebacker for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia Tech.
Attaochu during a Georgia Tech game in 2013. | |||||||||||
No. 97 – Denver Broncos | |||||||||||
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Position: | Outside linebacker | ||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||
Born: | Ibadan, Nigeria | January 17, 1993||||||||||
Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||
Weight: | 252 lb (114 kg) | ||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||
High school: | Archbishop Carroll (Washington, D.C.) | ||||||||||
College: | Georgia Tech | ||||||||||
NFL Draft: | 2014 / Round: 2 / Pick: 50 | ||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||
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* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||
Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2020 | |||||||||||
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Player stats at PFR |
High school career
Attaochu attended Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington, D.C.. He played football for Archbishop Carroll. He had 118 tackles and 14 sacks as a senior, while recording four touchdowns by blocking kicks or returning fumbles. He played three seasons of varsity football as a linebacker and defensive end, and served two years as team captain.
Considered a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, he accepted a scholarship from Georgia Tech over offers from Illinois, Kansas State and Syracuse.[1][2]
College career
As a freshman, Attaochu played in all 12 games and started in the Independence Bowl. He finished the year with 23 tackles (18 solo tackles), 4.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, and one quarterback hurry. In 2011, he played in 11 games and started 10 times, missing two games due to an injury. He led the team in tackles for loss (11.5), sacks (6.0) and finished third in total tackles with 59, intercepted one pass, while breaking up two others and recovering a fumble, earning a conference honorable mention selection. In 2012, he played and started in 13 games. He registered 69 tackles, including 44 solo tackles, had 12 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He had two sacks in the ACC Championship Game vs. Florida State. In 2013, as a senior, he played and started in all 13 games, recording 45 tackles, including 16 for loss, while adding 12.5 sacks, two pass break ups and one forced fumble, while earning himself All-ACC and All-American honors.[3]
He finished his career as Georgia Tech's all-time leader in sacks with 31.5, surpassing Greg Gathers' 31 that he set between 1999 and 2002.[4][5]
Professional career
Pre-draft
Attaochu sat out drills at the 2014 NFL Combine due to a finger injury (medical exclusion).[6] However, he was able to participate fully on his pro day. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.58 and a 4.63, had a vertical jump of 37.5 inches, a 3-cone of 7.28, and a short shuttle of 4.64. His 10-yard split was 1.55.[7]
San Diego / Los Angeles Chargers
Attaochu was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft.[8] In the 2014 season opener against the Arizona Cardinals, Attaochu made an impressive debut, recording one strip sack that forced a fumble and one blocked punt. The two plays helped set up 10 points for San Diego in an 18–17 loss.[9]
In 2016, Attaochu missed three games with a sprained ankle suffered in Week 6 and then suffering a broken foot in Week 10. He was placed on injured reserve on December 3, 2016.[10] He finished 2016 with eight tackles, two sacks, nine pressures and seven quarterback hits over eight games.
San Francisco 49ers
On March 15, 2018, Attaochu signed with the San Francisco 49ers.[11] He was released on September 1, 2018.[12]
New York Jets
On September 3, 2018, Attaochu signed with the New York Jets.[13] He played in 11 games before being placed on injured reserve on December 19, 2018.[14]
Kansas City Chiefs
On April 8, 2019, Attaochu signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.[15] He was released by the team on September 1, 2019.[16]
Denver Broncos
On October 1, 2019, Attaochu was signed by the Denver Broncos.[17] In week 14 against the Houston Texans, Attaochu sacked Deshaun Watson twice and recovered a fumble lost by wide receiver Keke Coutee and gave the ball to teammate Kareem Jackson who returned the fumble for a 70 yard touchdown during the 38–24 win.[18]
On March 30, 2020, the Broncos re-signed Attaochu to a one-year, $1.5 million contract.[19]
References
- Jeremiah Attaochu - Yahoo Sports
- Attaochu To Georgia Tech Archived January 10, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
- Attaochu Named All-American
- Georgia Tech’s Jeremiah Attaochu looks to close out his college career with a flourish Archived March 25, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
- College Stats Archived March 25, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
- http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/profiles/jeremiah-attaochu?id=2543717
- NFL pro day results: Jeremiah Attaochu wows scouts at Georgia Tech
- Jeremiah Attaochu to Chargers at No. 50
- Gehlken, Michael (September 11, 2014). "Chargers' Jerry Attaochu finds Comfort". U-T San Diego. Archived from the original on December 31, 2014.
- Henne, Ricky (December 3, 2016). "Chargers Sign Ryan Carrethers; Place Jerry Attaochu on Reserve". Chargers.com. Archived from the original on April 28, 2017.
- "49ers Sign DL Jeremiah Attaochu". 49ers.com. March 15, 2018. Archived from the original on March 19, 2018.
- "49ers Cut 21 Players, Get Roster Down to 53". 49ers.com. September 1, 2018.
- Allen, Eric (September 3, 2018). "Jets Sign Edge Attaochu, Place RB McGuire on Reserve/Injured". NewYorkJets.com.
- Greenberg, Ethan (December 19, 2018). "Jets Place Brandon Shell, Jeremiah Attaochu on Injured Reserve". NewYorkJets.com.
- Alper, Josh (April 8, 2019). "Chiefs sign Jeremiah Attaochu". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports.
- Chiefs Public Relations (September 1, 2019). "Chiefs Announce Practice Squad Players and Other Roster Moves". Chiefs.com. Kansas City Chiefs.
- Swanson, Ben (October 1, 2019). "Broncos sign Jeremiah Attaochu and Calvin Anderson, place Bradley Chubb on injured reserve, waive Keishawn Bierria". DenverBroncos.com.
- "Lock throws 3 TDs in first half as Broncos beat Texans 38-24". www.espn.com. December 8, 2019. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
- DiLalla, Aric (March 30, 2020). "Broncos re-sign OLB Jeremiah Attaochu". DenverBroncos.com.