GIVING CHASE Olaniyan is set
to join the starting lineup after
making 15 tackles and a sack
in his sophomore season.
Steve Manuel
he has a more personal reason to go
the extra mile – a cause for motivation
that already has him contemplating
the NFL after this season.
"I knew going into spring practice
that I had no room, no time to waste,"
Olaniyan said. "I've had a goal to improve every year and make it to the
next level. This spring, it was time for
me to put everything aside, no dis-
tractions, and go to work every single
day. Try to do the best I can every
day to help the team and help myself."
Playing in the NFL has always been
one of Olaniyan's goals, but on April
21, the pursuit of that dream became
a little more urgent. On that day, his
daughter Nahla was born. Ever since,
Olaniyan has been doing what he can
to climb one step closer to the league,
and one step closer to being able to
fully provide for his daughter.
"She's always in the back of my
head," he said. "Sometimes when we're
doing a workout, that's tough and I
need to push through, I hear Coach
Fitz saying, 'We're working for two,
we're working for a family now. We're
not just working for ourselves.' When I
