Oshiomogho Atogwe
Encyclopedia
Oshiomogho Isaac "O.J." Atogwe (born on June 23, 1981) is a Canadian safety of American football
for the Washington Redskins
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams
in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Stanford
.
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 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 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.
, 525-pound squat
, 285-pound power clean
Atogwe to a three-year $1.6 million contract with the Rams.
In his rookie year he played in 12 games, finishing the year with 11 tackle
s, 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. Atogwe was one of the rising players in the NFL at the strong safety position and in the 2008 season he recorded 5 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 is the non-exclusive franchise which allows other teams to negotiate with Atogwe but if any signed him that team has to give the Rams two first-round picks as compensation and as part of the designation Atogwe will receive a one-year tender of $6.342 million
On July 15, 2009 the Rams signed Atogwe to a one-year, $6.342 million contract. On December 9, Atogwe was placed on Injured Reserve due to a dislocated right shoulder.
In June 2010 he signed a 5-year contract worth $32 million with the Rams.
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
for the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft
2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Stanford
Stanford Cardinal football
The Stanford Cardinal football program represents Stanford University in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level and is a member of the Pac-12 Conference's North Division. Stanford, the top-ranked academic institution with an FBS program, has a highly successful football tradition. The...
.
Early years
He 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 & 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 footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
and ran track for the Stanford Cardinal
Stanford Cardinal
The Stanford Cardinal is the nickname of the athletic teams at Stanford University.-Nickname and mascot history:Following its win over Cal in the first-ever Big Game in 1892, the color cardinal was picked as the primary color of Stanford's athletic teams...
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 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 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.
Pre-draft measureables
Other notable measurements: 335-pound bench pressBench press
The bench press is an exercise of the upper body. For bodybuilding purposes, it is used to stimulate the pectorals, deltoids, and triceps. While on his or her back, the person performing the bench press lowers a weight to the level of the chest, then pushes it back up until the arm is straight...
, 525-pound squat
Squat (exercise)
In strength training, the squat is a compound, full body exercise that trains primarily the muscles of the thighs, hips and buttocks, quads , hamstrings, as well as strengthening the bones, ligaments and insertion of the tendons throughout the lower body...
, 285-pound power clean
St. Louis Rams
Atogwe was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the third round (66th overall) in the 2005 NFL Draft. On July 28, 2005Atogwe to a three-year $1.6 million contract with the Rams.
In his rookie year he played in 12 games, finishing the year with 11 tackle
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
s, one sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
, an interception, and a fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
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. Atogwe was one of the rising players in the NFL at the strong safety position and in the 2008 season he recorded 5 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
Franchise Tag
In the National Football League, the franchise tag is a designation a team may apply to a player scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. The tag binds the player to the team for one year if certain conditions are met. Each team has access each year to only one franchise tag and one...
on Atogwe. The tag is the non-exclusive franchise which allows other teams to negotiate with Atogwe but if any signed him that team has to give the Rams two first-round picks as compensation and as part of the designation Atogwe will receive a one-year tender of $6.342 million
On July 15, 2009 the Rams signed Atogwe to a one-year, $6.342 million contract. On December 9, Atogwe was placed on Injured Reserve due to a dislocated right shoulder.
In June 2010 he signed a 5-year contract worth $32 million with the Rams.
Washington Redskins
On March 3, 2011, Atogwe agreed to terms on a 5-year, $26 million deal with the Washington RedskinsWashington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
.