Oshiomogho Atogwe

Oshiomogho Atogwe

Atogwe at the Redskins 2011 training camp.
No. -     Free Agent
Free safety
Personal information
Date of birth: (1981-06-23) June 23, 1981
Place of birth: Windsor, Ontario
Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) Weight: 205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
College: Stanford
NFL Draft: 2005 / Round: 3 / Pick: 66
CFL Draft: 2004 / Round: 1 / Pick: 5
Debuted in 2005 for the St. Louis Rams
Career history
St. Louis Rams (2005–2010) Washington Redskins (2011) Philadelphia Eagles (2012)* *Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
NFC Interceptions leader (2007) Rams MVP award (2008)
Career NFL statistics as of 2011
Tackles 520 Sacks 5.5 INTs 25 FFs 19 TDs 1 Stats at NFL.com

Oshiomogho Isaac "O.J." Atogwe (born June 23, 1981) is a Canadian-born American football free safety who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Stanford.

Atogwe has also played for the Washington Redskins.

Early years

Atogwe attended high school at W.F. Herman Secondary School in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. While he was there he starred in football, soccer, basketball, and track and field. In basketball, he was a three-time All-City selection and was the league MVP as a senior. Atogwe was named All-Canada, All-Ontario and All-Academic. In football he was a two-year starter at running back and cornerback and was named the league's Defensive MVP in 1999, under head coach Harry Lumley. He was also All-city as a running back . He was a league MVP in basketball as a senior and three-time All-City selection and competed in the long jump, triple jump and 200-meter dash (22.8) in track.

College career

Atogwe played college football and ran track for the Stanford Cardinal in the Pac-10 conference where during his career he made nine interceptions. Atogwe redshirted as a freshman at Stanford in 2000. He appeared in every game as a reserve free safety in 2001, producing four tackles on special teams. Atogwe took over the strong safety position in 2002, going on to start the next 33 games. He led the team with 71 tackles (47 solos), a sack, a fumble recovery, three forced fumbles, three interceptions and four pass deflections. He was named team co-MVP and earned second-team All-Pac-10 Conference honors in 2003, as he again led the team with a career-high 90 tackles (54 solos), including five stops behind the line of scrimmage, two interceptions and eight pass deflections while manning the free safety position. He also led the FBS with six fumble recoveries and six forced fumbles. As a senior in 2004, Atogwe started all 11 games and finished with 76 tackles, four for a loss, four interceptions and seven passes broken up.

Atogwe also was a member of the Stanford track team in 2001 and 2002. He participated in the sprints and jumps, and his best marks in 2002 included 22' 10" in the long jump and 43' 3¾" in the triple jump. He was a Biological Sciences major.

Professional career

Pre-draft measureables

Other notable measurements: 335-pound bench press, 525-pound squat, 285-pound power clean ^[1][2]

St. Louis Rams

Atogwe was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the third round (66th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft. On July 28, 2005, Atogwe signed a three-year $1.6 million contract with the Rams.^[3]

In his rookie year he played in 12 games, finishing the year with 11 tackles, one sack, an interception, and a fumble recovery. The following season, he finished the campaign with 72 tackles and three interceptions and forced five fumbles. In the 2007 season, Atogwe had a team and NFC-high 8 interceptions along with 75 tackles and one touchdown and forced two fumbles. On April 22, 2008, the Rams tendered Atogwe a one-year deal for $2.017 million which he signed to remain with the club.^[4] In the 2008 season he recorded five interceptions to lead the Rams once again. He also recorded 83 tackles and forced six fumbles.

On February 19, 2009, the Rams used their franchise tag on Atogwe. The tag was the non-exclusive franchise which allowed other teams to negotiate with Atogwe, but if any signed him that team had to give the Rams two first-round picks as compensation. As part of the designation Atogwe received a one-year tender of $6.342 million.^[5] On July 15, 2009 the Rams signed Atogwe to a one-year, $6.342 million contract.^[6] On December 9, Atogwe was placed on injured reserve due to a dislocated right shoulder.

In June 2010 he signed a five-year contract worth $32 million with the Rams. The Rams released Atogwe on February 18, 2011.

Washington Redskins

On March 3, 2011, Atogwe agreed to terms on a five-year, $26 million deal with the Washington Redskins.^[7] He made his first interception for the Redskins in Week 6 against the Philadelphia Eagles.^[8] In Week 15 against the New York Giants, Atogwe made a leaping interception and returned it for 26 yards after London Fletcher deflected Eli Manning's pass to DJ Ware.^[9] Atogwe played 13 games, starting eight of them, in the 2011 NFL season and recorded 60 combined tackles, one-half sacks, three interceptions, and six pass breakups. He was released following the 2011 NFL season on March 12, 2012.^[10]

Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles signed Atogwe to a one-year contract on June 20, 2012.^[11] However, Atogwe was waived on August 31.^[12]

References

External links

• Philadelphia Eagles bio
• Washington Redskins bio