NFL.com picks Azeez Ojulari as potential first-time Pro Bowler
Azeez Ojulari had a strong first year in the NFL last season.
The 2021 second-round pick set a new franchise rookie record with his eight sacks. He also became the first player in Giants history to register a sack in each of his first three games with the team.
NFL.com writer Nick Shook recently chose a potential first-time Pro Bowler from every team across the league. When it came to the Giants, he went with the former edge rusher out of Georgia.
As Shook writes, "Ojulari stormed out of the gate in his first season, recording a sack in each of his first three games, and set a new single-game, career-high mark with 2.5 sacks in New York's Week 7 win over Carolina. The rookie wall hit him, though, with Ojulari matching that total in his remaining games and finishing with eight sacks on the year. Ojulari enters Year 2 with a top talent -- first-round choice Kayvon Thibodeaux -- rushing opposite him, which should make the going a little easier for him. Defensive coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale isn't afraid to turn up the heat, either, placing Ojulari on a course for greater success in 2022."
Ojulari finished his rookie campaign with 49 total tackles (29 solo), eight sacks, eight tackles for loss, 13 quarterback hits, one forced fumble and two pass breakups while playing in all 17 games.
The second-year pass rusher spoke to the media a couple weeks ago, where he shared that he gained 10 pounds of muscle during the offseason.
He also expressed his excitement about lining up opposite Thibodeaux this upcoming season and beyond.
"You know, players help each other every day. He's a great dude, so I was just happy to have him..." Ojulari said. "He's explosive for sure, a great athlete, too. Just can't wait to keep playing with him and getting better every day with him."
View the best photos of outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari's career with the Giants.
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New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) and Azeez Ojulari (51) during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday December 11, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Jerry Pinkus/ New York Giants)
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New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday December 4, 2022 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
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New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a week 2 Thursday Night football game against the Washington Football Team on Thursday September 16th, 2021 in Landover, Maryland.
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New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a Week 4 football game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday October 3, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana
New York Giants outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) wraps up Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) during a week 15 football game on Sunday December 19th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a week 13 football game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday December 5th, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida
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New York Giants outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a week 18 football game against the Washington Football Team on Sunday January 9th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a week 2 Thursday Night football game against the Washington Football Team on Thursday September 16th, 2021 in Landover, Maryland.
New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a week 9 football game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday November 8th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a week 8 football game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday November 1st, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri
New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a week 7 football game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday October 24th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a week 2 Thursday Night football game against the Washington Football Team on Thursday September 16th, 2021 in Landover, Maryland.
New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) celebrates a sack with Leonard Williams (99) during a week 2 Thursday Night football game against the Washington Football Team on Thursday September 16th, 2021 in Landover, Maryland.
New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a week 7 football game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday October 24th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a week 2 Thursday Night football game against the Washington Football Team on Thursday September 16th, 2021 in Landover, Maryland.
New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a week 7 football game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday October 24th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a week 7 football game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday October 24th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a week 1 game against the Denver Broncos on September 12th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) watches from the sideline during a week 16 football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday December 26th, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a week 13 football game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday December 5th, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida
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New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a week 1 game against the Denver Broncos on September 12th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a week 1 game against the Denver Broncos on September 12th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
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New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a week 13 football game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday December 5th, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida
New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a week 7 football game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday October 24th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a week 13 football game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday December 5th, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida
New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a week 13 football game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday December 5th, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida
New York Giants outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a week 14 football game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, December 12, 2021 in Inglewood, California.
New York Giants outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a week 15 football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday December 19th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a week 15 football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday December 19th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a week 9 football game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday November 8th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a week 3 football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday September 26th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a week 11 football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday November 22nd, 2021 in Tampa, Florida
New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a week 5 game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas on Sunday October 10th, 2021,
New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a week 9 football game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday November 8th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a week 14 football game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, December 12, 2021 in Inglewood, California.
New York Giants outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a week 14 football game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, December 12, 2021 in Inglewood, California.
New York Giants outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a week 14 football game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, December 12, 2021 in Inglewood, California.
New York Giants outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a week 14 football game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, December 12, 2021 in Inglewood, California.
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New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a week 9 football game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday November 8th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
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New York Giants outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51)
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New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday June 10, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a NFL Training Camp joint practice at the Cleveland Browns practice facility on Thursday August 19, 2021 in Berea, Ohio
New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a NFL Training Camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday August 10, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a NFL Training Camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday July 29, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday June 10, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
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New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday June 8, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a NFL Training Camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday August 17, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
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New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) sack Jale Hurts (1) during a NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagle, Sunday December 11, 2022 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
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'Great instincts' help Cor'Dale Flott transition to NFL
When Cor'Dale Flott and Wan'Dale Robinson talk about each other, it isn't just empty pleasantries between college rivals turned NFL teammates. It's genuine.
"There were a couple times I came over to the sideline to my coach, and I said, 'It's like [Flott] knows what I'm running a couple times,'" the Kentucky receiver recalled of the LSU cornerback. "That was really the only guy I felt like that against."
Conversely, the position coach on the other sideline was none other than former Giants cornerback Corey Raymond, who groomed Flott during a career with the Tigers that began with a national championship and ended with a third-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Now on the recruiting trail for the University of Florida – "I'm trying to find another guy like Cor'Dale Flott" – Raymond recently joined the Giants Huddle podcast to break down the former standout from LSU.
"Him being a smart player allowed him to do different things," said Raymond, who was hired as Florida's assistant head coach/cornerbacks this off-season after a decade with LSU, his alma mater. "He picks up defenses well. He understands a lot of different things that are happening out there. He has great instincts. He has an understanding of the game. He has all those attributes that are going to help him."
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