During a time when NFL prospects are often opting out of bowl games, Georgia edge rusher Azeez Ojulari opted into his. And his reward, should the third-year sophomore decide to enter the 2021 draft, will be leaving Georgia on the absolute highest note.
Georgia produced eight sacks in its 24-21 win over Cincinnati in Friday’s Peach Bowl. Ojulari was responsible for three of those takedowns – tying the Georgia bowl record – and each was among the timeliest plays that helped the Bulldogs spoil the Bearcats’ undefeated season.
“It was important for me to just to make sure the seniors go out the right way,” said Ojulari, who was named Defensive MVP of the game. “Their last game, they worked so hard in this unpredictable season. You never know (about the future). Just got the opportunity to play for another game, so I took advantage of it, to play with my brothers. It was great.”
The game’s result was likely different if not for Ojulari’s strip sack early in the fourth quarter. Georgia was trailing 21-10, having failed to score twice inside Cincinnati’s 25 in the second half. As time dwindled, it seemed that long-awaited jolt might allude the Bulldogs.
Enter Ojulari, who single-handedly changed Georgia’s fate. He provided that desperately needed spark on third down, sacking quarterback Desmond Ridder and forcing a fumble that Adam Anderson recovered at the Cincinnati 25. The Bulldogs scored two plays later, pulling within five points.
Later in the quarter, with Georgia down 21-19, Ojulari again burst through on third down, forcing a punt. Georgia achieved little on the ensuing three-and-out, leading coach Kirby Smart to the then-questionable decision of punting the ball with 3:07 remaining.
Smart’s faith in the defense was rewarded. The Bulldogs got the ball back and kicked the 53-yard winning field goal. Cincinnati’s offense ran one last play with three seconds remaining, allowing Ojulari to smash their hopes for a miracle with a sack in the end zone that padded the final score.
The Marietta native finished with four tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles and a safety. He achieved such despite not registering on the box score in the first half, when the undersized and undermanned Cincinnati offensive line held on for dear life.
“Azeez’s performance, he puts in the work every day,” junior defensive back Christopher Smith said. “It was expected. It was great to see him go out there and make a lot of plays for us.”
Ojulari finished with 8.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss this season, bringing his total to 14 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss over the past two seasons. He also had a sack, forced fumble and recovery in last year’s Sugar Bowl, when Georgia defeated Baylor.
Ojulari’s fluidity, bend and motor make him one of the highest regarded pass rushers in the nation. His size (6-foot-3, 240 pounds) and athletic profile project similarly to former LSU edge rusher and current Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter, who blossomed in the pros and recorded 29 sacks across the 2018-19 seasons before missing 2020 with an injury.
So it’s understandable that fans, scouts and neutral observers collectively salivated at Ojulari’s season finale. They saw the traits translate into elite production. They saw Ojulari take over as the clear best player in a game featuring two top-10 teams.
While Ojulari didn’t reveal his intentions after the game, it’d be a surprise if he decided to return. He already was commonly viewed as a first-round prospect before capturing national attention Friday. Ojulari could become the school’s highest selected edge rusher since Leonard Floyd went ninth in the 2016 draft.
“Azeez, it would be great to have him back, to come play with me again,” sophomore linebacker Nakobe Dean said. “If they (Ojulari and nose tackle Jordan Davis) do choose to go onto the draft and everything, they do have my full support. They’re my brothers for life.”
The Peach Bowl was just the beginning for Ojulari. He’ll almost certainly join the long list of Georgia defenders to hear their name called in the first round. The only question is whether that occurrence will be this April or one down the road. The Bulldogs and their fans certainly wouldn’t mind the latter.
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