Biography

Name: Akin Ayodele
Height/Weight: 6-2, 245
Position: LB
Born: 9/17/79
College: Purdue '02
Acquired: 2010 (Mia.)
NFL:  Ninth Season
Broncos: First Season

CAREER TRANSACTIONS
Picked up by the Broncos May 2010 from free agency after playing 2 years with the Dolphins. Acquired by the Dolphins from Dallas, along with TE Anthony Fasano, on April 26, 2008 in exchange for a 2008 fourth-round draft choice (100th overall) ... Originally was a third-round draft choice of Jacksonville (89th overall) in 2002 ... Signed with the Cowboys as an unrestricted free agent on March 13, 2006.

PRO CAREER AT A GLANCE
Has been a model of durability throughout his NFL career, having played in all 96 league games, 76 of which have been starts. He moved into a full-time starting role by his second NFL season and did not relinquish it. In Akin's six previous NFL seasons, he has proven to be a playmaker, having amassed 9.5 sacks, five interceptions, nine forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a touchdown.

PRO

2009: Ayodele appeared in all 16 games (15 starts) for the eighth consecutive season, ranking third on the Dolphins with 70 tackles (60 solo)... Forced one fumble and recovered two... Registered at least five tackles eight times during the year, including a season-best eight stops vs. Hou. (12/27)... Recovered two fumbles vs. T.B. (11/15).

2008: Ayodele played all 16 games (13 starts) for the seventh consecutive season, finishing with 74 tackles (58 solo) along with two interceptions (29 yds.), four pass breakups and one fumble recovery for the Dolphins... Ranked third on the team in tackles... Started in Miami’s AFC Wild Card Game vs. Bal. (1/4), tying for a team-high with six tackles (5 solo) and registering one pass breakup in that contest.

2007 - Started 14 of the 16 games in which he played ... Ranked fourth on the team with 95 tackles ... Added two passes defensed and three tackles on special teams ... Key part of a defense that ranked ninth overall in the NFL (307.6 ypg) and sixth against the run (94.6 ypg) ... Only two games he did not start were when Cowboys did not open in base defense ... Posted a season-high 10 tackles in opener vs. N.Y. Giants (9/9) ... Had nine stops apiece in games vs. New England (10/14) and at Detroit (12/9) ... Started Divisional Playoff Game vs. N.Y. Giants (1/13/08) and recorded six tackles, a figure which tied for second on the team that day.

2006 - In first season with Cowboys, started all 16 regular season games ... Reached the 100-tackle mark for his fifth time in as many NFL seasons as he posted 106 total stops, a figure that ranked second on the squad, trailing only Bradie James' total of 132 ... Added a sack, two interceptions, four passes defensed and two fumble recoveries ... Also collected seven tackles on special teams ... In Cowboys debut, at Jacksonville (9/10), posted seven tackles on defense and two more on special teams ... Lone sack of the year came at Carolina (10/29) ... The following week at Washington (11/5), recovered a fumble on a Redskins field goal attempt that led to a Cowboys field goal ... Intercepted a Matt Leinart pass the week afterwards at Arizona (11/12) after the Cardinals had made it to the Dallas 45 ... The Cowboys converted the turnover into a touchdown on the next play from scrimmage, giving Dallas a 20-3 lead as they went on for a 27-10 win ... Snared a Bruce Gradkowski pass two weeks later in 38-10 Thanksgiving Day victory vs. Tampa Bay (11/23), one which also resulted in a Cowboys touchdown ... Produced a season-high 12 tackles at N.Y. Giants (12/3) ... Also had a fumble recovery at Atlanta (12/16) ... Started First-Round Playoff Game at Seattle (1/6/07) and was second on the squad with eight tackles.

2005 - Started 11 of the 16 games in which he appeared in his final season with the Jaguars ... Produced 100 tackles, 2.5 sacks, a fumble recovery and four forced fumbles ... Tackle total ranked third on the squad for a defense that was sixth overall in the NFL, as it allowed an average of only 290.9 yards per game ... In season-opening 26-14 win over Seattle (9/11), recorded four tackles, a sack and a forced fumble ... The sack and forced fumble occurred on the same play as the loose ball was recovered by teammate Mike Peterson ... Had 12 tackles vs. Denver (10/2) ... The following week vs. Cincinnati (10/9), had six tackles while also recovering a Carson Palmer fumble with 1:16 to play in the game, preserving the Jaguars' 23-20 victory ... Secured 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble in 24-17 win at Arizona (11/27) ... His full sack of Cardinals QB Kurt Warner came with 32 seconds remaining when Arizona was at the Jaguars' 36, and resulted in a fumble that was recovered by Rob Meier, preserving Jacksonville's victory ... Produced a season-high 15 tackles vs. Indianapolis (12/11), a figure that equaled a career best ... Saw action in First-Round Playoff Game at New England (1/7/06) in a reserve role and was credited with eight tackles.

2004 - Started all 16 games ... Collected 131 tackles, two sacks, a fumble recovery, two forced fumbles and four passes defensed ... Tackle total was second on the club ... Key component of a Jaguars defense that ranked 11th overall in the NFL (320.9 ypg) ... Had eight tackles and a forced fumble in opener at Buffalo (9/12) ... Stripped the ball from Bills WR Eric Moulds in the fourth quarter after Buffalo had made it to the Jaguars’ 13, as Donovan Darius recovered the loose ball with Jacksonville going on for a 13-10 win ... The following week vs. Denver (9/19), recovered a Quentin Griffin fumble with 37 seconds to play after the Broncos had made it to the Jaguars' 23, preserving Jacksonville's 7-6 victory ... Both sacks on the season occurred in contest vs. Kansas City (10/17), representing a career high ... Also had a forced fumble in the Jaguars' 22-16 victory when he tied a career high with 15 tackles ... Added 11 stops in 23-17 win over Detroit (11/14) as the Jaguars held the Lions to 190 yards of total offense ... Blocked a Kris Brown 34-yard field goal attempt vs. Houston (12/26).

2003 - Started all 16 games ... Posted a career-high 150 total tackles, a sack, two interceptions, three fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and two passes defensed ... Added two stops on special teams ... Part of a defensive unit that ranked sixth in the league in total defense (291.1 ypg) and second against the run (87.9 ypg) ... Tackle total was second on the squad ... His three opponents' fumble recoveries tied for third in the AFC ... Accounted for double-digit tackle totals on seven occasions, including a high of 14 in games vs. Indianapolis (11/9) and at New England (12/14) ... Lone sack of the year came in opener at Carolina (9/7) when he led the team with 11 tackles ... Also in that game, intercepted a Jake Delhomme pass in the fourth quarter after the Panthers had made it to the Jaguars' 46 ... Recovered a Ricky Williams fumble in game vs. Miami (10/12) ... At Baltimore (11/2), scooped up a Kyle Boller fumble and raced 15 yards for a touchdown ... Picked off a Michael Vick pass in finale at Atlanta (12/28).

2002 - Started three of the 16 games in which he played as a rookie ... Compiled 108 tackles, three sacks, an interception, two forced fumbles and a pair of passes defensed ... Tackle total ranked fourth on the team while his sack figure was fifth ... Also tied for second on the squad with 13 special teams tackles for a unit that ranked second in the league as it allowed an average of just 19.5 yards per kickoff return ... First start of NFL career came in a week two contest at Kansas City (9/15) as he responded with seven tackles ... That game marked the first of three starts over a four-week span ... Initial sack of NFL career occurred at N.Y. Giants (11/3) when he tackled Kerry Collins for a 1-yard loss ... That was one of a team- and career-high 15 tackles that day ... Also in that game, forced a Ron Dayne fumble which was recovered by John Henderson at the Jaguars' 33 and led to a Jacksonville touchdown 15 plays later ... Two weeks later at Houston (11/17), added a 5-yard sack of David Carr ... The week afterwards at Dallas (11/24), forced a Troy Hambrick fumble which was recovered by Ainsley Battles ... Had perhaps the most productive game of his rookie season vs. Cleveland (12/8) ... Notched 10 tackles, including an 8-yard sack of Tim Couch ... Also accounted for his first career interception as he picked off a Couch pass and returned it a career-long 22 yards, setting up a Jaguars field goal.

COLLEGE
Was a three-year starter at Purdue (1999-2001) after transferring from Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College, where he spent his freshman season ... As a defensive end for the Boilermakers, he posted 194 tackles, 29 sacks, 54 stops for loss, five fumble recoveries and four forced fumbles, as he started all 35 games in which he played ... Played in a bowl game all three years at Purdue ... Was a first-team All-Big Ten selection as a senior when he tallied 64 tackles, nine sacks and a career-high 20 stops for loss ... Was a second-team all-conference pick as both a sophomore and junior ... Tallied a career-high 11 sacks as a sophomore ... Graduated with a double major in sports psychology and law & society as well as a minor in business.

PERSONAL
Attended MacArthur High School in Irving, Texas ... Earned all-district accolades as a senior when he played linebacker and tight end ... First name, Akinola, is an African word that means "a warrior who has gone through many wars and has never been defeated" ... Has been active in community endeavors throughout his NFL career ... In fact, was the Jaguars' Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee in 2003, and also was the NFL Extra Effort Award winner for the month of November that same year ... Won the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Community Champion of the Year, and $2,500 was donated to the Muscular Dystrophy Association on his behalf ... Has made regular visits to hospitals and schools ... In Dallas, took part in several events through the Salvation Army, which provided food and gifts for those in need ... Annually presents a $5,000 scholarship to a deserving college-bound student from his high school alma mater in memory of his best friend, Michael Tilmon, who was killed in a car accident during their senior year of high school ... As a high school student in Irving, Texas, worked at Texas Stadium on gamedays ... Younger brother, Remi, played nose tackle at the University of Oklahoma from 2004-05 and is currently with the Cowboys ... Youngest brother, Harold, currently plays football at Tennessee State, while his sister, Jessica, plays volleyball at the University of Louisiana-Monroe ... During the 2007 offseason, participated in the NFL's Business Management and Entrepreneurial Program at the Harvard School of Business ... Full name is Akinola James Ayodele, born September 17, 1979 in Dallas, Texas.

DOWN TO BUSINESS
One of Akin's proudest moments during his NFL career might have come off the field, when he participated in the NFL's Business and Management Entrepreneurial Program at the Harvard School of Business in the 2007 offseason. "It was a great experience," he says. "There's a lot of history at Harvard and just to be able to be there, attend those classes and see where some of the great minds of our society started out was amazing. For me, it was a chance to learn outside the football realm and establish myself outside of what I do on the football field." In fact, taking that class helped spawn two business ventures Akin is involved with in the Dallas area. One of them is Jerseyville Classic Sports Restaurant in Plano, Texas.