Austin Ajiake: Path To The NFL Draft

By Simon Carroll

There’s nothing quite like becoming a parent to put your life into perspective. For most, everything you know, or thought you knew, and everything that you once considered important, pales into insignificance. No longer just living for yourself, the stakes are raised. And future life choices are dictated by what’s best for the collective, rather than the individual. 

Austin Ajiake has always had an intense focus on his football journey. And yet fatherhood took that drive and determination and turned it all the way up to eleven. He sits down with Simon Carroll to discuss his path to the NFL Draft:

A Sporting Family

Like most young boys, Austin Ajiake was a football fanatic in his younger years. Growing up with two brothers and two sisters, it played a big role in his childhood. But it wasn’t the only sport that Ajiake threw himself into – his passion for athletic competition even went as far to him participating in the most British of pastimes:

“I was born in Hayward, but I grew up in Fremont, California. It’s a small city in between Oakland and San Jose. I came from a pretty big family, was the middle child of five kids, and sports was everything for all of us. That was all we did! Baseball, basketball, football, track – I even played rugby for a little bit! Sport just consumed my entire life. My parents did a good job of getting all five of us to and from practices. It was a lot but they made it work.”

Despite being advocates of their children’s passion for sports, Austin and his siblings were left in no doubt that it wasn’t the only priority in the Ajiake household. Academics would not not play second fiddle to the football field:

It was always school, then sports. My mom and dad, they used to preach the value of a good education, and it’s something I’ve taken with me throughout my career. But football was always my love. I chose to focus on it around eighth grade; I stopped all the other sports and gave it my 100% attention. I was willing to take the game as far as it would take me. I went to Bellarmine College Prep in San Jose, which has had a really good football program over the years – they really helped me improve my knowledge of the game.”

Jumping To Linebacker

Devoting all his extra-curricular time to football, Austin Ajiake became a high school star on the gridiron. Whilst he played both sides of the ball, it was as a running back where Ajiake made the most impact, racking up ten touchdowns as a junior and eleven as a senior – with 1,168 yards to boot. But as his body developed, his home on the football field lay elsewhere:

“I was a running back pretty much my whole life; I played a little bit of quarterback as a young kid but basically, I ran the ball. At high school I was faster than everybody so it made sense. But as the competition got better, my speed became less of a distinguishing factor. I was also pretty big – when I graduated I was 6’2” and 225lbs, so a lot of college coaches already had me penned as a linebacker. And my experience as a running back worked well with that change, because they use similar techniques – a focus on leverage and contact, play recognition and field vision. Having that offensive mindset has given me a unique insight into what to look for – I know what my opponents are thinking.”

Still, like most young kids, Ajiake was stubborn. Who wants to be the next Patrick Willis when you could be the next Reggie Bush? He headed into recruiting determined to remain on offense. His future coaches had other ideas…

“I made that transition to linebacker the second I got to UNLV. I had some scholarship offers from other schools, about six in total – mostly Mountain West teams. But they wanted me as a linebacker. I wanted to play running back, which is what UNLV gave me the scholarship for. But they switched me as soon as I got there! They kinda tricked me! But I’m really thankful for that change. They knew before I did, but linebacker was the position for me.”

Learning His Trade

An unexpected position change meant it was inevitable that Austin Ajiake’s introduction to football would be gradual. Instead of bemoaning a lack of opportunity, Ajiake threw himself into learning as much about his new role as possible, whilst helping the team in a different way:

“Linebacker is a position that takes a lot of development. A lot of it is mental, so when I first got there I was just trying to soak up as much as I could, learn from some of the older guys and pick their brains. So it was a gradual introduction for me; I didn’t start a game until my fourth season as a Rebel. For the first three years I played on special teams, something I really enjoyed and was proud of my role on those units. But when it was my time to play linebacker, when I was fully developed and had the playbook down – I was able to make an impact.”

Ajiake is keen to stress that he isn’t just willing to play special teams; he relishes it. It’s a healthy outlook to have considering the route he may need to take to see the field at the next level:

“Unless you’re a first rounder or something like that, the way you make a roster is through special teams. I’m well aware of that and ready for it. It’s going to be a similar process for me as my college career was; you make your bones on special teams, and earn the opportunity to see the field on defense. I have no problem with that – I’m patient in that regard. I love doing the dirty work, whatever it is the team needs from me.”

"They've Given Me My 'Why'"

2020 was a tough year for almost everyone on planet Earth, with COVID affecting all of us in some way, shape or form. But it was also a year of celebration for Austin Ajiake and his fiancee Rhonda, who welcomed baby Eliana into their family. For Austin, it was a real lightbulb moment for him:

“The birth of my daughter – that’s what really did it for me. It’s no coincidence that after she was born, I started every game for my last two seasons. I’ve always been focused and determined, but that moment, it just took me to a whole new level. I didn’t know I had that level mentally. Holding her in my hands and looking at her, knowing she was my offspring and it was my duty to provide for her, set a road for her. I gotta set an example now, that through hard work, dedication and courage, you can be something. If you hold those values high, you can achieve more than you probably imagine. I gotta live by those rules every day now.”

‘Conscientious’ is a good word to describe Ajiake, who in every response is eager to acknowledge those who have had a positive impact on his life. He’s quick to praise his partner too, mindful of just what she does in his young family:

“Rhonda, she’s so important. What she does is a big part of it too. Without her dedication to our family, I’m not able to spend the extra hours at the facility. Not able to focus on football, my team and my teammates. She does a phenomenal job when I’m not able to be at home. We’re like a team, and I know that all this effort I’m putting in now will allow me to repay my family back in the future. Having those two at my games and watching me – they’ve given me my ‘why’.”

A Small Setback

Ready for a breakout season in 2021 and armed with an extra incentive, Austin Ajiake begins introducing himself to Mountain West football. He assumes a starting role in his senior season, and begins the year emphatically – recording 74 tackles through the first eight games. But in early November, whilst practicing ahead of a trip to New Mexico, disaster struck:

“I broke my wrist midway through that 2021 season. It was really hard for me at the time, because it was my first year starting and I was proving myself every game. My tackle numbers were going up each week, I was on pace for 100+ for the year. And then I hurt my wrist at practice and it was like an anticlimactic season. I had to learn to be patient, to have faith in God. But what it did do was allow me to watch some games from the perspective of being a coach. There were some games where I had the headset on, and I was basically coaching for the last four games. That exposure really helped me mentally going into the next season. So I guess it was kind of like a blessing in disguise.”

Ajiake returned to Las Vegas for the extra year that COVID had given his college career. He still had something to prove…

“I knew I wasn’t done at UNLV. I was always coming back for that extra year. Whilst I was happy with how much my game had developed, I knew I hadn’t put enough on tape yet to attract the attention of the NFL. It was never in question; I had a short conversation with Coach Arroyo. They wanted me back, I wanted to be back, and that was that.”

Personal Development vs Team Results

If the 2021 stats were impressive, then 2022 was ludicrous. Making up for lost time, Austin Ajiake dominated for The Rebels in his final year, racking up 132 tackles, including 11 for a loss. He also showed some impressive playmaking skills too, recording a fumble recovery and a pair of interceptions. Ajiake may not always have had the NFL in mind, but it was becoming apparent to both him and the outside world that a professional career was a legitimate possibility:

“My whole life, my goal was always to play college football. Allow my passion for the sport to help me get an education. The image in my head was ‘play football, get my degree’. But as my career progressed, my game developed, I was making more plays; my first year as a starter it really dawned on me how close an NFL career could be with more hard work. I compared my stats to those guys getting drafted and realised I could do this if I really wanted to. From that 2021 season, I was all in. I constructed a detailed month by month offseason plan for myself, set some targets on things I wanted to improve, with a new goal in mind.”

Ajiake’s career arch has been steady but impressive, and he can rightly be proud of his personal record. But what of that of his team? The hard hitting linebacker admits that it was challenging playing for a program that won just fifteen games in the six years he was on campus. But it also allowed him to grow in other ways:

“Modest is a nice way to put it! It was tough. You play to win, and when that doesn’t happen it can be difficult. But what I did get out of that adversity was my leadership. COVID year we were 0-6. The year after that, 2-10. And you’ve still gotta show up every single day. Meetings, practices, all day – and it’s really easy, especially for the younger guys, to lose motivation. There’s no results and we’re playing for nothing at this point. Despite my career going well, when I got injured in 2021 we were 0-8. It wasn’t just me, but as an older guy on the team, having that maturity from being a parent, I felt like I owed it to my teammates to be a leader. Show them how to remain focused and maintain that dedication despite the adversity. I set an example. Looking back at my time at UNLV, developing my leadership ability is probably what I’m most proud of.”

Coaching: A Cutthroat Business

Losing brings with it firings and hirings, and Austin Ajiake has seen his fair share of that during his time at UNLV. I ask him how tough it was seeing coaches depart, and what it meant for the future of the Rebels football program:

“Coaching changes in general are really hard, because there’s a lot of uncertainty. I feel like for a program to develop, it takes time. You need to be in that system for years. We’re playing against San Diego State and Wyoming, who have had the same regimes in place for eight years plus. They’ve been able to instill their values and culture as well as the schemes and playbook. It helps with recruiting, which again helps with results. We didn’t have that stability – I had two head coaches, three different coordinators, three position coaches. There was some value in that on a personal level – I got to learn from a number of different, unique perspectives. But it didn’t necessarily help the program with long-term success.”

Ajiake is keen to stress just how important some of his previous coaches have been to him and his football career. Suffice to say, he’s grateful to have worked with some influential people:

“Peter Hansen was a coach that I have a lot of respect for. He was my coordinator and the inside linebacker coach when I got my first start. He came over with some pro experience from the 49ers, and introduced an NFL playbook. His coaching took my game to another level entirely. He and assistant linebackers coach Larry Grant, I can’t say enough about those guys. They worked in tandem really well; Coach Hansen knew the game like nobody else, a true x’s and o’s guy, whilst Coach Grant kind of had more of a players perspective. And in 2022 Coach (Michael) Bruno came over from Cal – he’s a literal film junkie! He’s in the office all day long, and showed me the value of studying an opponent. I’ve never felt more prepared for a game than I was with him. The detail was crazy – ‘if the tight end’s toe is pointed at a 45 degree angle it indicates a run play’, stuff as intricate as that. And he was always right too. He allowed me to play fast and free – I knew what was coming.”

And just for good measure, who could forget the conditioning coaches? Ajiake refers to them as ‘the glue’:

“I also gotta shout out the strength staff. Coach (Matthew) Fyle & Coach (Brandon) Garcia, they poured a lot into us. Without those guys, my body wouldn’t be where it’s at today. That allows me to make those plays. Building a player is like building a team; there’s a lot of pieces that go into it. A combination of all these coaches allowed me to flourish.”

Showcasing His Talents

Flourish is a great word to describe how Austin Ajiake finished at UNLV. And the scouting world took notice too; Ajiake received an invite to the Hula Bowl, a week-long showcase where prospects can meet NFL teams and show them what they could do. Ajiake’s ‘team’ was led by Brian Billick, the former Super Bowl-winning head coach with the Baltimore Ravens – a fact that was initially lost on Austin!

“I gotta say, I wasn’t too familiar with Coach Billick when I was first introduced to him. But afterwards, I looked him up and was like ‘wow – I didn’t realise who I’ve been talking to!’ But I had a really good week of practice over there, being coached by some of the best NFL minds. I surprised a lot of scouts with what I could do, spoke to probably half the league. Some of them had been following me my final year in Las Vegas, but the other teams just saw my work on the practice field and wanted to know more. I enjoyed getting in front of those guys and having them pick my brain – and I wasn’t afraid to ask them what they thought I could improve upon! I had a notebook full of tips and advice by the end of the week.”

Most draft prospects get invited to just one of the bowl games – if they’re lucky. But Ajiake turned enough heads in Orlando to get noticed by the East-West Shrine Game – one of the marquee events of the pre-draft calendar. Called up at short notice, it also allowed Austin to return to a familiar stomping ground:

“It was amazing to go back to Allegiant and play one more game in Las Vegas. I felt so comfortable there! It was definitely a step up in competition. The o-lines were a lot bigger than ones I was used to, but I felt like I elevated my game well. I wasn’t overwhelmed; my block shedding still worked, my tackling was still good. I felt at home amongst those guys, and definitely got better as the week went on.”

Final Auditions

Austin Ajiake has used the last two years to cultivate a CV worthy of the NFL’s attention. With the Hula Bowl and Shrine Game firmly in the rear view mirror, it leaves just one day left on the calendar to focus on; UNLV’s pro day on March 8th. In his last opportunity to impress scouts, Ajiake is working hard to show those watching he has every aspect of the position locked down:

“Come pro day, I’m gonna showcase my top-end speed. A lot of teams seem to expect me to run in the 4.6’s, but I feel like I’m a lot faster than that. 4.5’s is the target, and that will put me in a good position compared to other linebackers. I’m keen to show them how I move – my fluidity in the linebacker drills, loose hips and opening up my body. All the work I’ve been putting in since December at Las Vegas Sports & Performance, I’m anxious to see where I stack up. There’s six of us down here working out, with coaches Korey Toomer and Larry Grant. I’m ready.”

Ready for where? I ask Austin if there’s any particular destination that would be especially satisfying to head to and begin his professional career:

“It would be cool to go back to the Bay Area, obviously be close to home. I love what the Niners are doing, they have awesome linebackers to learn from. The Raiders are my childhood team, and obviously I’d be back at Allegiant again seen as they followed me to Vegas! I know it sounds cliche but I really would be ecstatic to call any NFL city my home. It doesn’t matter where it is – I’m ready to make the most out of that opportunity.”

Just The Beginning

April 27th represents the culmination of a lot of time, effort and devotion to the journey of Austin Ajiake – and that’s not just his own either. From his parents as a child, to his fiancee and his new family as an adult, the investment in his NFL dream comes from everywhere. Including from back where it all began – and it’s why he’s not taking his foot off the pedal just yet:

“I’ve got no plans for draft weekend. I haven’t thought that far ahead, haven’t allowed myself to. All my energy and attention is going into preparing for my pro day. Coming where I come from, making it to the NFL is a big achievement. Fremont California, I think there’s only Robert Turbin who has become a professional football player. I’ve had a lot of support from my hometown throughout my football career, so I’m not letting up.”

Wherever and hower Ajiake chooses to celebrate his ascension to the NFL, there’s no doubt it will be an emotional moment for a man who has a keen grasp of the sacrifices it has taken to get here – from everybody. And yet, his focus remains steadfast – making a team is just the start:

“I’m definitely going to cry. Put my head down and start tearing up. Just reminiscing on the journey, all the hard work, and what it means to me and my family – it was all for something. But as nice and as gratifying as that moment will be, it doesn’t guarantee anything. The real hard part hasn’t even begun. But I’ve been here before, know the value of dedication. I’m taking that with me to the next level.”

Mock Draft

SIMON CARROLL

HEAD OF CFB/NFL DRAFT CONTENT

PREVIOUSLY THE FOUNDER OF NFL DRAFT UK, SIMON HAS BEEN COVERING COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND THE NFL DRAFT SINCE 2009. BASED IN MANCHESTER, SIMON IS ALSO CO-CREATOR & WEEKLY GUEST OF THE COLLAPSING POCKET PODCAST.

Twitter Envelope Linkedin Spotify Apple
5/5

A huge thank you to Austin for taking the time to talk to us. Everyone at The Touchdown wishes him well in his future career.