New Mexico State University Athletics

AWARDS

• 2022 College Football Network First Team All-Independent
• 2022 Phil Steele Preseason All-Independent Second Team
• 2022 Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List - Awarded to the most outstanding defensive player in college football
• 2021 Phil Steele All-Independent Second Team
• 2020-21 HERO SPORTS Preseason All-America Team
• 2019 Third Team Preseason All-Conference by Phil Steele Publications

2022 SEASON:
Led all Aggies with 108 tackles in 2022 … Ranked 13th across all FBS players (First in FBS Independents) with 5.3 solo tackles per game … Named to the Phil Steele All-Independent First Team … Also picked up College Football Network First Team All-Independent honors … Started all 13 games for NM State … Finished second of the team with 5.0 sacks, including one in four consecutive games … Led NM State with 11.5 tackles for a loss on the season … Split the team lead with two forced fumbles, including one in the Quick Lane Bowl … Posted NM State’s single-game high with 15 tackles against New Mexico … Recorded double-digit tackles three times in the season … Notched at least seven tackles in ten games throughout the season … Credited with a pair of quarterback hurries in the Aggies’ win over New Mexico … Finishes his collegiate career with 347 total tackles, including 179 at NM State … 347 tackles would rank tenth in program history.

2021 SEASON:
Started every game for the Aggies in the 2021 season … Named as a Second Team member of the 2021 Phil Steele All-Independent Team … Logged 13 tackles against No. 1 Alabama and two sacks at home against Hawaii – the highest single-game totals by an Aggie in 2021 … Finished the season tied for second on the team with 71 tackles … Led the team with five sacks, three forced fumble, and 15 tackles for a loss … Logged seven tackles at New Mexico, at Nevada, and against Massachusetts … Forced a pair of fumbles at Hawaii on October 23 … Added two pass breakups on the year … Logged one of the best defensive games in school history on the road in Tuscaloosa with 13 tackles, three tackles for a loss, a sack, and a forced fumble.

2020-21 SEASON:
• Earned third team recognition by HERO SPORTS on its NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Preseason All-America Team released May 28
• In addition, he was chosen by HERO SPORTS as the top player in FCS to wear No. 58 in the 2020-21 season
• Saw action in just three games, tallying 24 total tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks
• Had 12 tackles (0.5 for loss), a QB hurry and a pass break up against Northern Arizona (Mar. 6). 

2019 SEASON:
• Redshirted, but played in four games in accordance with a new NCAA rule that allows student-athletes to play in up to four games and still redshirt.
• Started EWU’s first three games before being shelved with an injury, and finished the year with 27 tackles a pass broken up and a quarterback hurry.
• He was the team’s defensive player of the week against Washington (Aug. 31) when he finished with a career-high 11 tackles 
• Recorded five in the next game versus Lindenwood (Sept. 7), and a pair the week after against Jacksonville State (Sept. 14)
• Didn’t play again until Montana (Oct. 26) and he finished with nine tackles, but was redshirted after that
• Earned third team preseason all-conference selection as chosen by Phil Steele Publications. 
 
2018 SEASON: 
• Ojoh finished the season with 105 tackles to rank 27th all-time at EWU
• Started the last six games of EWU’s seven-game winning streak from Oct. 17 to Dec. 15 and led the way with 58 tackles, a touchdown-saving interception, six quarterback hurries, a sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a pass broken up. 
• He had a fumble recovery on a sack and forced fumble by Jim Townsend with 11 seconds left to clinch a 34-29 victory over UC Davis (Dec. 8) in the quarterfinals of the FCS Playoffs.
• Made his starting debut as an Eagle versus Cal Poly (9/22/18) and ended up starting eight total games.
• He had 11 tackles and a sack in the NCAA Division I Championship Game against North Dakota State (Jan. 5)
• Also had 11 tackles versus Nicholls (Dec. 1) in the second round of the playoffs
• Had four performances with at least 10 tackles, including two with a career-high 11.
• He had 10 tackles, a forced fumble and a key quarterback hurry in a 59-20 victory over UC Davis (Nov. 10).
 
2017 SEASON: 
• Played in all 11 games as a backup linebacker and on special teams
• The linebacker finished his true freshman season with 18 tackles and was a significant contributor on special teams
• In just his second game as an Eagle, he had five tackles with a half-sack versus Fordham (Sept. 16).
• He had four tackles against North Dakota State (Sept. 9) and four versus Montana (Sept. 23), meaning 13 of his 18 tackles came in a three-game stretch

HIGH SCHOOL:
• Graduated from Bishop Alemany HS in 2017
• His head coach in high school was James Washington
• As a senior, he earned first team All-Mission League honors as a linebacker
• He had 115 tackles (11.5 per game) with four sacks and a fumble recovery
• Also played basketball and competed in track and field in high school
• His Alemany teammates Johnny Edwards IV (’17) and Ely Doyle (‘18) also play for the Eagles, and Alemany was the high school home of former Eagle All-America quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. (’11)

Personal:  
• Born 11/15/99 in Nigeria
• Son of Christopher Ojoh and Paulin Elad
• Nickname is Mojo.