In his first professional season, edge rusher Azeez Ojulari has recorded 8.0 sacks through 15 games. That set an all-time New York Giants record for sacks by a rookie, surpassing defensive lineman B.J. Hill, who recorded 5.5 sacks in 2018.
For Ojulari, there are still a few mountains to climb. Specifically, he’d like to reach the double-digit sack mark and break Lawrence Taylor’s unofficial franchise record for sacks by a rookie (9.5 in 1981).
But most importantly of all, Ojulari says, he just wants to finish the season strong and help his team win.
“I’m just working every week, every single game. Sack or not, just trying to get to the quarterback and impact the game as much as I can. If it happens, it happens. I’m just focusing on winning, so that’s the main thing, trying to win and get the dub at the end of the day,” Ojulari told reporters on Friday.
Unlike many of his teammates, Ojulari has managed to stay healthy and on the field in 2021. That alone speaks volumes considering the injury issues the team has endured throughout the season.
“Man, I just thank God. I’m just blessed to be healthy right now and just going out there and competing every week, sticking to the script, sticking to my schedule,” Ojulari said. “Everyone has their own schedule — sticking to it and doing it every single day, every single week just to make sure my body’s good because it’s a long season and you’ve got to prepare and stay to the script, and I’ve been doing that.”
If Ojulari can remain in one piece and stay on the field over the final two weeks, he very well may reach that 10-sack mark and surpass the greatest defensive player of all-time. At least in one statistical category, anyway.
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