Hakeem Adeniji

Hakeem Adeniji (born December 8, 1997) is an American football offensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Kansas Jayhawks. At Kansas, he was a twice All-Big 12 selection, making the first-team in 2019[1] and second-team in 2018.[2] He was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round (180th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Hakeem Adeniji
No. 78 – Minnesota Vikings
Position:Offensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1997-12-08) December 8, 1997
Garland, Texas, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:315 lb (143 kg)
Career information
High school:Garland
College:Kansas (2016–2019)
NFL Draft:2020 / Round: 6 / Pick: 180
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 18, 2022
Games played:35
Games started:15
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

High school

Adeniji attended high school at Garland High School in Texas. In high school, he had committed to play at the United States Air Force Academy. However, he failed to receive a medical waiver to attend due to an allergy to cashews. After failing to receive the waiver, he committed to the University of Kansas.[3]

College career

As a freshman, Adeniji became a starter at tackle immediately, starting all twelve games. Throughout his college career, Adeniji showed durability, not missing a single game due to injury. By the end of his senior year, he had been on the roster for 48 games and started in all of them. In his junior and senior years, he helped pave the way for running back Pooka Williams Jr. to rush for over 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons. For his efforts, he was named 2nd team All-Big 12 as a junior[2] and 1st team as a senior.[1]

Professional career

NFL Draft

Adeniji was invited to the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine. Although he played tackle at Kansas, NFL Analyst Lance Zierlein said he believed Adeniji may have to move to guard in the NFL.[4]

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard splitVertical jumpBroad jumpBench pressWonderlic
6 ft 4+3⁄8 in
(1.94 m)		 302 lb
(137 kg)		 33+3⁄4 in
(0.86 m)		 10 in
(0.25 m)		5.17 s1.78 s2.98 s34 in
(0.86 m)		9 ft 7 in
(2.92 m)		26 reps34
All values from NFL Combine[4]

2020

Adeniji was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals with the 180th overall selection in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.[5] In week 8 of the 2020 season, he recorded his first career start at tackle. He helped the Bengals, who had allowed 28 sacks through 7 games, allow zero sacks in the game for the first time all season.[6] He finished his rookie season with five starts and played in fifteen games.

2021

Adeniji tore his pectoral muscle during offseason workouts and had season ending surgery to repair it in June 2021.[7] He was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list following the preseason.[8] He was activated on November 4, 2021.[9] In his first game back from injury, he made his sixth career start against the Cleveland Browns.[10] He finished the season starting in and playing in nine games. He also got the start for the Bengals in their postseason victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, which was the Bengals first playoff win in 31 years.

2022

Adeniji began the season as the backup right tackle behind La'el Collins on the depth chart, he would be the team's swing tackle in all plays requiring six offensive linemen. Collins was injured in the Week 16 game against the New England Patriots, leading Adeniji to become the starting right tackle for the rest of the season and the playoffs.[11] In the AFC Championship Game against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Bengals offensive line allowed three sacks, two of which from Chris Jones, the right side defensive end.

Adeniji was waived by the Bengals on August 29, 2023.[12]

Minnesota Vikings

On August 31, 2023, Adeniji was signed to the Minnesota Vikings practice squad.[13] On October 5, 2023, he was signed to the active roster.[14]

Personal life

His mother, Joke, was a television anchor in Nigeria before the family moved to the Dallas area. His brother, Moshood, played offensive line at Air Force.[15]

References
  1. "2019 All-Big 12 Football Awards Announced". Big12Sports.com. December 4, 2019. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  2. Linton, Chance (November 28, 2018). "2018 All-Big 12 football awards announced". 247Sports.com. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  3. Newell, Jesse (April 5, 2017). "How an allergy led Hakeem Adeniji to the Kansas football team". Kansas.com. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  4. "Hakeem Adeniji draft profile". NFL.com.
  5. Chasen, Scott (April 25, 2020). "KU football's Hakeem Adeniji selected in 2020 NFL Draft". 247Sports.com. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  6. "Bengals vs Titans gamebook" (PDF). NFL.com.
  7. Rapien, James (June 15, 2021). "Bengals OL Hakeem Adeniji to Miss Significant Time With Pectoral Injury". SI.com. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  8. "Bengals Reduce 2021 Roster To 53 Players". Bengals.com. August 31, 2021. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  9. "Bengals Make Four Roster Moves Ahead Of Week 9 Versus Cleveland". Bengals.com. November 4, 2021.
  10. Hobson, Geoff (November 7, 2021). "Pregame Notebook: Adeniji Continues To Impress Bengals With Looming Start At RG; Rookie DT Shelvin Active For NFL Debut". Bengals.com. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  11. Roling, Chris (December 28, 2022). "Overlooked factor could help Hakeem Adeniji replace La'el Collins well". Bengals Wire. USA Today. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  12. "Bengals Reduce Roster to 53 Players for 2023 Season". Bengals.com. August 29, 2023. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  13. Peters, Craig (August 31, 2023). "Vikings Add 4, Including 2021 LB Nick Vigil, to Practice Squad". Vikings.com. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  14. "Vikings Sign T Hakeem Adeniji to Active Roster; Add QB Tanner Morgan to Practice Squad". Vikings.com. October 5, 2023.
  15. Hobson, Geoff (April 25, 2020). "Sixth Round: Bengals Opt for Versatile Tackle". Cincinnati Bengals. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
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