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Amani Oruwariye

Amani Oruwariye
refer to caption
Oruwariye in 2019
No. 27 – Dallas Cowboys
Position:Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (1996-02-09) February 9, 1996 (age 28)
St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school:Gaither (Tampa, Florida)
College:Penn State (2014–2018)
NFL draft:2019 / round: 5 / pick: 146
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-Big Ten (2018)
  • Second-team All-Big Ten (2017)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 18, 2024
Total tackles:202
Pass deflections:27
Interceptions:10
Fumble recoveries:2
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Amani Horatio Oruwariye (/ɔːruˈwɑːriˌjeɪ/ or-oo-WAR-ee-YAY;[1] born February 9, 1996) is an American professional football cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Penn State.

Early life

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Oruwariye lettered for three years at Gaither High School in Tampa, Florida.[2] As a senior, he was voted team MVP and invited to the Hillsborough County All-Star Game.[3] He was ranked a three star recruit by all four major recruiting services, and 247Sports and Rivals rated him a top 100 prospect in the state of Florida. Oruwariye committed to Vanderbilt University early in his senior year before decommitting and following Head Coach James Franklin to Penn State.[4]

College recruiting information
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Amani Oruwariye
CB 		Tampa, FL Tampa (FL) Gaither 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Jan 30, 2014 
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN grade: 73
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2014 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

College career

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Oruwariye redshirted his true freshman season at Penn State, then appeared in mostly special teams action during his redshirt freshman year.[5]

In 2016, Oruwariye saw more time en route to Penn State's first Big Ten Championship Game victory. He logged his first interception against Kent State, which he proceeded to return for a touchdown.[6] He finished the season with 23 total tackles.[7][8]

Oruwariye burst onto the national scene in 2017 due to his personal-best four interceptions, good for fourth in the Big Ten.[9][7][10] He earned recognition from both coaches and the media, who elected him second all-B1G.[11] He appeared in all but one game as Penn State clinched its first Fiesta Bowl victory since 1997.

Oruwariye carried his junior year momentum into his redshirt senior year, starting in each of Penn State's 12 games, picking off three passes, and tallying a career highs in tackles, pass defenses, and forced fumbles.[8] His excellence was recognized by coaches, media, the Associated Press, and ESPN, all of whom named him to their All-B1G teams.[12] He received an invite to the Reese's Senior Bowl amidst discussions that he could potentially be a first round pick.[13]

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 1+5⁄8 in
(1.87 m) 		205 lb
(93 kg) 		31+3⁄8 in
(0.80 m) 		9 in
(0.23 m)		 4.47 s 1.63 s 2.66 s 4.16 s 6.82 s 36.5 in
(0.93 m)		 10 ft 0 in
(3.05 m)		 17 reps
All values from NFL Combine[14][15]

Detroit Lions

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Oruwariye was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the fifth round (146th overall) of the 2019 NFL draft.[16] He finished the season with two interceptions and third on the Lions' depth chart.[17][18]

Oruwariye was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Lions on July 29, 2020,[19] and was activated 10 days later.[20] In Week 11 against the Carolina Panthers, Oruwariye recorded his first interception of the season off a pass thrown by P. J. Walker during the 20–0 loss.[21] In the 2020 season, he appeared in 16 games and started 15. He finished with 53 total tackles (45 solo), one interception, and seven passes defended.[22]

Oruwariye entered the 2021 season as a starting cornerback for the Lions. He started the first 14 games before suffering a thumb injury in Week 15. He was placed on injured reserve on December 25, ending his season.[23] He finished the season with 57 tackles, and a team-leading 11 passes defensed and six interceptions.[24] He was third in the NFL in interceptions at the time of his injury.

In the 2022 season, Oruwariye finished with 44 total tackles (36 solo), three passes defended, and one fumble recovery in 14 games and five starts.[25]

New York Giants

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On March 23, 2023, Oruwariye signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract with the New York Giants.[26] He was released on August 29, 2023, and re-signed to the practice squad.[27][28] He was released on October 10.[29]

Jacksonville Jaguars

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On October 16, 2023, Oruwariye was signed to the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad.[30] He was active in one game in the 2023 season, Week 17 against the Panthers.[31] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 8, 2024.[32] He was released on August 27, 2024.[33]

Dallas Cowboys

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Oruwariye was signed to the Dallas Cowboys practice squad on August 29, 2024.[34] He was promoted to the active roster on October 26.[35] In the Week 14 Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, with two minutes to go in a 20–20 game, Oruwariye muffed a blocked punt, which was eventually recovered by the Bengals for a first down. The Bengals would score the winning touchdown soon after. Oruwariye refused to speak to the media after the game concluded, and wore a towel on his head while walking to the locker room.[36]

References

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  1. ^ "2022 Detroit Lions Media Guide" (PDF). NFL.com. National Football League. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  2. ^ "Gaither alum selected in NFL Draft". The Laker/Lutz News. May 8, 2019. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  3. ^ "'Tampa Teaches You How to Be Cool Around Greatness': Local Ties in the 2019 Senior Bowl". Buccaneers.com. January 26, 2019. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  4. ^ "Penn State gets commitment from DB Oruwariye". LancasterOnline. January 30, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  5. ^ Twentyman, Tim; OHara, Mike (April 27, 2019). "A CLOSER LOOK: Cornerback Amani Oruwariye". Detroit Lions. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  6. ^ Schutte, Dustin (September 3, 2016). "Amani Oruwariye gets a pick-six for Penn State". Saturday Tradition. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Amani Oruwariye - Football". Penn State University Athletics. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  8. ^ a b "Amani Oruwariye College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  9. ^ McGonigal, John (July 6, 2018). "Penn State ball-hawk Amani Oruwariye opened eyes in 2017. Now what?". Centre Daily Times. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  10. ^ "Penn State's Amani Oruwariye looking forward to leadership role in 2018". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. July 24, 2018. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  11. ^ "View the 2017 All-Big Ten Football Defensive Teams". Big Ten Network. November 28, 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  12. ^ Juliano, Joe (December 28, 2018). "Amani Oruwariye on track to be first Penn State cornerback drafted in first round". Inquirer.com. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  13. ^ Pickel, Greg (November 21, 2018). "Penn State's Trace McSorley, Amani Oruwariye, accept Senior Bowl invitations". pennlive. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  14. ^ "Amani Oruwariye Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  15. ^ "Amani Oruwariye, Penn State, CB, 2019 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  16. ^ "2019 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  17. ^ Birkett, Dave (April 27, 2019). "Detroit Lions take Amani Oruwariye in Round 5 of 2019 NFL draft". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  18. ^ "Amani Oruwariye 2019 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  19. ^ Rogers, Justin (July 29, 2020). "Kenny Golladay, T.J. Hockenson among Lions placed on COVID reserve list". DetroitNews.com. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  20. ^ "T.J. Hockenson among 3 Lions removed from COVID-19 reserve list". DetroitNews.com. August 8, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  21. ^ "Detroit Lions at Carolina Panthers - November 22nd, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  22. ^ "Amani Oruwariye 2020 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  23. ^ Birkett, Dave (December 25, 2021). "Detroit Lions' Amani Oruwariye (thumb) on injured reserve". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  24. ^ "Amani Oruwariye 2021 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  25. ^ "Amani Oruwariye 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  26. ^ Citak, Matt (March 23, 2023). "Former Lions CB Amani Oruwariye joins Giants". Giants.com. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  27. ^ Eisen, Michael (August 29, 2023). "Giants announce 53-man roster for 2023". Giants.com. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  28. ^ Eisen, Michael (August 30, 2023). "Giants sign 12 players to practice squad". Giants.com. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  29. ^ "WR Cole Beasley restored to Giants practice squad". Giants.com. October 10, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  30. ^ "Roster Moves: Jaguars Sign CB Amani Oruwariye to Practice Squad, Release OLB Derek Parish". Jaguars.com. October 16, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  31. ^ "Amani Oruwariye 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  32. ^ Stites, Adam (January 8, 2024). "Jaguars sign 11 players to reserve/future contracts". Jaguars Wire. USA Today. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  33. ^ "Roster Moves: Jacksonville Jaguars Make The Following Roster Moves Hours Before 2024 Roster Deadline". Jaguars.com. August 27, 2024. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  34. ^ Walker, Patrik (August 28, 2024). "Carl Lawson, Dalvin Cook headline list of Dallas Cowboys' practice squad signings". DallasCowboys.com.
  35. ^ Gurzi, Randy (October 26, 2024). "Cowboys promote ball-hawking cornerback from practice squad to active roster". SI.com. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  36. ^ Phillips, Ryan (December 10, 2024). "Cowboys Commit Disastrous Miscue on Blocked Punt to Hand Bengals Win". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
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