Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com OCT. 7, 2019 19 Heavier but bloated, Ogundeji de- cided that pizza, nachos and junk food weren't the proper recipe for football fitness. "I started to realize that I had to start taking care of my body," Ogundeji said, "getting stronger, get- ting physically better." Improvement was coming for Ogundeji — especially under the guidance of university nutritionists and strength and conditioning coach Matt Balis — but it didn't happen overnight. WAITING HIS TURN After taking a redshirt year as a freshman in 2016, Ogundeji appeared in only five games as a sophomore in 2017, all while his defensive line classmates were logging snaps and turning heads of NFL scouts. But when Irish senior lineman Jay Hayes left the program before the 2018 season as a graduate transfer, opportunity knocked. "I feel like the moment I realized that I was starting to do well was right before last season started," re- called Ogundeji, who appeared in all 13 games in 2018, recording 22 tack- les, three tackles for loss, two sacks, one pass broken up and a forced fumble. "Once I realized I had that opportunity, I started to feel like my- self. I started to play well. I started feeling myself understanding the game and playing a lot better." And now, at 6-4 and 253 pounds, Ogundeji has been every bit as pro- ductive and valuable a player so far this season as his linemen classmates who drew all the recruiting hype in 2016 as incoming freshmen and all the preseason headlines in 2019 as outgoing seniors. Despite working in a backup role behind Kareem on the strongside, Ogundeji entered the game against Virginia already with nine tackles, one for loss and a forced fumble. Ogundeji's nine stops through the first three games ranked him first among all Irish defensive linemen and put him on pace for 36 tackles this season. "It's definitely been a long time com- ing for me," said Ogundeji, who unlike his defensive end classmates has a fifth year of eligibility remaining in 2020. "I'm blessed to be in this position." For Kelly, he calls Ogundeji a vivid snapshot of what coaching attention and player persistence can create. "And a great indication," Kelly added, "of that you can be somebody who develops within the program, and not be ready made, and still be an impact player." ✦ "Once I realized I had that opportunity, I started to feel like myself. I started to play well. I started feeling myself understanding the game and playing a lot better." OGUNDEJI Ogundeji led all Fighting Irish defensive linemen with nine tackles through the first three games. PHOTO BY MIKE MILLER