Nose tackle joins brother at Cowboys camp
By Bill Spinks
Herald Democrat
SAN ANTONIO — Remi Ayodele was answering questions from a small group of reporters when he suddenly got a playful shove from behind by his older — and much smaller — brother, Akin.
Gathering himself after the surprise, Remi shook his head and smiled. “He’s lucky we’re not at home right now,” he said. “I would’ve knocked him out.”
Through high school and into college, and now in the NFL, Remi was following in Akin’s footsteps. Now the Ayodele brothers are together — for the first time — in training camp with the Dallas Cowboys.
“During camp it can get real stressful, so when you get a stress relief, it’s nice to have your brother here just to mess around with,” Remi said.
Because they are more than four years apart in age, Akin and Remi Ayodele had never been able to play alongside each other on the same team — except in their backyard.
“I always wondered what it would be like to play with my brother, and now I have an opportunity to,” Remi said. “I’m really excited about it.”
Both Ayodeles grew up in the shadow of Texas Stadium. Akin played at Irving MacArthur, Remi at South Grand Prairie after Akin moved on to Purdue University. In fact, Akin worked for the Cowboys at Texas Stadium on gamedays while in high school.
“Every player would love to play at home where they were raised with their football team,” Remi said. “Especially being the Cowboys, that makes it more special. It’s been a lifelong dream of mine.”
Akin Ayodele is an established linebacker in the league, in his sixth year overall and second with Dallas after signing as a free agent from Jacksonville. Akin has recorded 100 or more tackles in five straight seasons.
Remi, however, is still trying to catch on in the pros. The nose tackle out of Oklahoma is with his third NFL team, after being signed and cut by New England and then going through camp with Baltimore.
Last Nov. 7, he was signed to the Cowboys’ practice squad and spent three weeks there. He was released at the end of the month, but re-signed with Dallas at the end of the year.
Remi was allocated to NFL Europa this spring and recorded 15 tackles, one sack and one pass breakup for the Frankfurt Galaxy.
“I started out playing 30 snaps a game, and then as the season went along I usually played 60 snaps a game,” Remi said. “It was a real good experience going out there and getting the feel of the game, because it had been a whole year since I’d been on the field playing in a real-game situation.”
Remi was not a star at OU — he started only eight games and made only 22 tackles in his two seasons there — but learned immensely under defensive line coach Jackie Shipp, who helped Tommie Harris and Dusty Dvoracek develop into all-Big 12 performers.
“I think it was one of the best decisions in my life I made, going to OU over the other schools,” Remi said. “I was fortunate to have a really good coach who got me ready for the next level. That was a really good experience because everyday when I was practicing my senior year (Shipp) was coaching me on how to get ready for the next level and the work ethic I was going to need.”
Akin says he tries to be a role model for his younger brother, helping him with the playbook, giving 100 percent effort and “do(ing) everything God’s way.”
“I look after him and try to help him out when I can, but I understand he has to find his own and bond with the rest of the D-line guys, and just let him be a man,” Akin said.
Remi — whose name is short for Remilekun — is battling with second-year player Montavious Stanley and undrafted rookie Ola Dagunduro for the right to back up starter Jason Ferguson at nose tackle.
“It’s the NFL,” Remi said. “Anywhere you go, you’re going to have competition. You’ve gotta compete and show them you want to be here and you can help them out. I think every team’s like that.”
Ferguson, an 11-year veteran, has taken Remi under his wing.
“I watch him a lot,” Remi said. “He always helps me when I need. In the meeting room, I sit right in front of him, and if I need to ask him a question I just turn around and he helps me out all the time.”
Does Akin think his brother has a chance to make the team? Of course he does.
“He’s athletic and strong and fast,” he said. “He can definitely make the team. It’s all about going out and proving what he can do. He has a good chance of doing that.”
At a svelte 240 pounds, Akin is the smaller of the two; Remi outweighs him by 60 pounds. The biggest one is the youngest: Harold, who is at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas, is 6-foot-3 and 335 pounds.
“All my younger brothers are bigger than me,” Akin said. “During Thanksgiving, it’s a rush to the dining table. They eat so much. If I don’t get there first, the meal’s gone.”
If his younger brother Remi is still hungry to make the team by the end of August, there may be two Ayodeles wearing a star on Turkey Day.
Herald Democrat
SAN ANTONIO — Remi Ayodele was answering questions from a small group of reporters when he suddenly got a playful shove from behind by his older — and much smaller — brother, Akin.
Gathering himself after the surprise, Remi shook his head and smiled. “He’s lucky we’re not at home right now,” he said. “I would’ve knocked him out.”
Through high school and into college, and now in the NFL, Remi was following in Akin’s footsteps. Now the Ayodele brothers are together — for the first time — in training camp with the Dallas Cowboys.
“During camp it can get real stressful, so when you get a stress relief, it’s nice to have your brother here just to mess around with,” Remi said.
Because they are more than four years apart in age, Akin and Remi Ayodele had never been able to play alongside each other on the same team — except in their backyard.
“I always wondered what it would be like to play with my brother, and now I have an opportunity to,” Remi said. “I’m really excited about it.”
Both Ayodeles grew up in the shadow of Texas Stadium. Akin played at Irving MacArthur, Remi at South Grand Prairie after Akin moved on to Purdue University. In fact, Akin worked for the Cowboys at Texas Stadium on gamedays while in high school.
“Every player would love to play at home where they were raised with their football team,” Remi said. “Especially being the Cowboys, that makes it more special. It’s been a lifelong dream of mine.”
Akin Ayodele is an established linebacker in the league, in his sixth year overall and second with Dallas after signing as a free agent from Jacksonville. Akin has recorded 100 or more tackles in five straight seasons.
Remi, however, is still trying to catch on in the pros. The nose tackle out of Oklahoma is with his third NFL team, after being signed and cut by New England and then going through camp with Baltimore.
Last Nov. 7, he was signed to the Cowboys’ practice squad and spent three weeks there. He was released at the end of the month, but re-signed with Dallas at the end of the year.
Remi was allocated to NFL Europa this spring and recorded 15 tackles, one sack and one pass breakup for the Frankfurt Galaxy.
“I started out playing 30 snaps a game, and then as the season went along I usually played 60 snaps a game,” Remi said. “It was a real good experience going out there and getting the feel of the game, because it had been a whole year since I’d been on the field playing in a real-game situation.”
Remi was not a star at OU — he started only eight games and made only 22 tackles in his two seasons there — but learned immensely under defensive line coach Jackie Shipp, who helped Tommie Harris and Dusty Dvoracek develop into all-Big 12 performers.
“I think it was one of the best decisions in my life I made, going to OU over the other schools,” Remi said. “I was fortunate to have a really good coach who got me ready for the next level. That was a really good experience because everyday when I was practicing my senior year (Shipp) was coaching me on how to get ready for the next level and the work ethic I was going to need.”
Akin says he tries to be a role model for his younger brother, helping him with the playbook, giving 100 percent effort and “do(ing) everything God’s way.”
“I look after him and try to help him out when I can, but I understand he has to find his own and bond with the rest of the D-line guys, and just let him be a man,” Akin said.
Remi — whose name is short for Remilekun — is battling with second-year player Montavious Stanley and undrafted rookie Ola Dagunduro for the right to back up starter Jason Ferguson at nose tackle.
“It’s the NFL,” Remi said. “Anywhere you go, you’re going to have competition. You’ve gotta compete and show them you want to be here and you can help them out. I think every team’s like that.”
Ferguson, an 11-year veteran, has taken Remi under his wing.
“I watch him a lot,” Remi said. “He always helps me when I need. In the meeting room, I sit right in front of him, and if I need to ask him a question I just turn around and he helps me out all the time.”
Does Akin think his brother has a chance to make the team? Of course he does.
“He’s athletic and strong and fast,” he said. “He can definitely make the team. It’s all about going out and proving what he can do. He has a good chance of doing that.”
At a svelte 240 pounds, Akin is the smaller of the two; Remi outweighs him by 60 pounds. The biggest one is the youngest: Harold, who is at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas, is 6-foot-3 and 335 pounds.
“All my younger brothers are bigger than me,” Akin said. “During Thanksgiving, it’s a rush to the dining table. They eat so much. If I don’t get there first, the meal’s gone.”
If his younger brother Remi is still hungry to make the team by the end of August, there may be two Ayodeles wearing a star on Turkey Day.
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