Foyesade Oluokun

Foye attended Forsyth School an elementary school in Clayton, Missouri. Where he played basketball, soccer and other outdoor activities. Oluokun later began his football career at John Burroughs School.[1] He partnered with Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott while there.[2]

Oluokun began his college football career at Yale. He tore a pectoral muscle as a junior and was granted an extra semester.[3] As a senior, he was a second-team all- Ivy League selection. He declared for the 2018 NFL Draft following the 2017 season.

Oluokun did not receive an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine. On March 8, 2018, Oluokun participated at a Pro Day held at Yale and completed all of the combine drills. Oluokun’s time of 4.48 in the 40-yard dash would’ve finished sixth among all linebackers at the combine and his time of 4.12 in the short shuttle would’ve been the second best time of all linebackers. Oluokun attended pre-draft visits with multiple teams, including the Kansas City Chiefs, Arizona Cardinals, and Indianapolis Colts.[4] At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, Oluokun was projected to be a seventh round pick by the majority of NFL draft experts and scouts. He was ranked as the 20th best linebacker in the draft by DraftScout.com.[5]

The Atlanta Falcons selected Oluokun in the sixth round with the 200th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Oluokun was the 27th linebacker drafted in 2018.[6] Oluokun became the first Yale player to be selected in the NFL Draft since Shane Bannon in 2011. He also became only the 44th player to be drafted from Yale since 1936.[7]

External video
Falcons draft Foyesade Oluokun 200th overall

On May 9, 2018, the Atlanta Falcons signed Oluokun to a four-year, $2.60 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $146,629.[8]

Oluokun entered training camp slated as a backup linebacker and special teams player.[9] He had immediate success after impressing coaches with his athleticism and tackling ability during camp and began competing against Duke Riley to be the starting weakside linebacker.[10] Head coach Dan Quinn named Oluokun a backup middle linebacker, behind Deion Jones, to begin the regular season.[11]

He made his professional regular season debut in the Atlanta Falcons' season-opener at the Philadelphia Eagles and made one tackle during their 18–12 loss. On October 7, 2018, Oluokun earned his first career start and recorded five combined tackles as the Falcons lost 41–17 at the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 5. In Week 6, he collected a season-high ten combined tackles (seven solo) during a 34–29 victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[12] He finished his rookie season in 2018 with 91 combined tackles (56 solo), one pass deflection, and one forced fumble in 16 games and seven starts.[13] He received an overall grade of 64.6 from Pro Football Focus, which ranked 46th among all qualifying linebackers in 2018.[14]

In an upset of the New Orleans Saints on November 10, 2019, Oluokun led the defense with seven solo tackles and one assisted tackle as the Falcons won 26-9.

Oluokun was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Falcons on August 2, 2020,[15] and was activated three days later.[16]

In Week 2 of the 2020 season against the Dallas Cowboys, Oluokun forced two fumbles own Cowboys' players on consecutive drives in the first quarter which were both recovered by the Falcons during the 40–39 loss.[17] In Week 6 against the Minnesota Vikings, Oluokun recorded his first career interception off a pass thrown by Kirk Cousins during the 40–23 win.[18] In Week 9 against the Denver Broncos, Oluokun recorded 10 tackles, one pass deflection, and recorded his first career sack on Drew Lock during the 34–27 win. Oluokun was later named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week.[19] In Week 12 against the Las Vegas Raiders, Oluokun recorded a strip sack on Derek Carr that was recovered by teammate Jacob Tuioti-Mariner during the 43–6 win.[20] In Week 16 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Oluokun intercepted a pass thrown by Patrick Mahomes and made a 51 yard return during the 17–14 loss.[21]

The son of immigrants, he is of Nigerian descent.[22]

• Atlanta Falcons bio
• Yale Bulldogs bio