Age: 26
3rd
season in pro football & with Rams
College: Stanford
Height: 5’11” Weight: 210
Prelude:
The
Canadian-born “O.J.” Atogwe was a track as well as football standout in
college, intercepting nine passes. He was chosen by the Rams in the third round
of the 2005 NFL draft and moved into the starting lineup at free safety in ’06.
Atogwe improved over the course of the season, playing well against the run and
increasing his range and playmaking ability.
2007 Season Summary
Appeared in all
16 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Interceptions
– 8 [2, 1st in NFC]
Most
interceptions, game – 2 vs. Green Bay 12/16
Int. return
yards – 125 [11]
Most int.
return yards, game – 52 (on 1 int.) at Arizona 12/30
Int. TDs – 1
[7, tied with many others]
Sacks – 0
Fumble
recoveries – 1
Forced
fumbles – 2
Tackles – 66
Assists – 9
Scoring
TDs – 1
Points – 6
Rams went 3-13
to finish fourth in the NFC West.
Aftermath:
Atogwe
followed up in 2008 by intercepting another five passes and forcing six
fumbles, and was named team MVP. In ’09, after having started 60 straight
games, he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in the 12th
contest. Following one more year with St. Louis, Atogwe signed with the Washington
Redskins for 2011 but suffered through an injury-plagued season in which he
started eight games and accumulated three interceptions. Waived afterward, he
signed with the Philadelphia Eagles for 2012 but was cut during the preseason,
ending his career. Overall, over the course of seven years Atogwe intercepted
25 passes, 22 with the Rams, and returned one for a touchdown. He also was
credited with 5.5 sacks and 374 tackles.
--
Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories:
Rushing:
Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing:
Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving:
Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs,
Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose:
Total Yards
Defense:
Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff
Returns: Average
Punt Returns:
Average
Punting:
Average
*Leagues
include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL
(1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)
**NFC/AFC
since 1970
