Ajou Ajou (born January 10, 2002) is a Canadian professional football wide receiver for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
| No. 80 Saskatchewan Roughriders | |
 Ajou with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2024 | |
| Born: | January 10, 2002 Brooks, Alberta, Canada |
|---|---|
| Career information | |
| Status | Active |
| CFL status | National |
| Position(s) | Wide receiver |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) |
| Weight | 211 lb (96 kg) |
| College | Clemson (2020–2021) USF (2022) Garden City (2023) |
| High school | Harry Ainlay High Clearwater Academy International |
| CFL draft | 2024, round: 7, pick: 59 |
| Drafted by | Saskatchewan Roughriders |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 2024–present | Saskatchewan Roughriders |
| Career stats | |
| |
College career
editAjou first played college football with the Clemson Tigers from 2020 to 2021, becoming the first Canadian to play for the team.[1][2] He played in 22 games where he had eight catches for 114 yards and one touchdown.[2] While wanting more playing time, Ajou transferred to the University of South Florida in 2022 to play for the Bulls.[3] However, after recording two receptions for nine yards in the first game of the season, he suffered a sports hernia and sat out the rest of the season.[3] After returning to health in 2023, he was denied a spot on the team, so he transferred to Garden City Community College to play for the Broncbusters.[3] He then played in seven games where he had 17 catches for 186 yards and two touchdowns.[2][3] Following the 2023 season, he declared for the CFL draft and NFL draft.[3]
Professional career
editAjou was drafted in the seventh round, 59th overall, in the 2024 CFL Draft by the Saskatchewan Roughriders and signed with the team on May 6, 2024.[4] Following training camp in 2024, he began the season on the team's injured list.[5] However, he soon after made his professional debut in week 2 on June 16, 2024, against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats where he had five receptions for 41 yards.[5] In the team's next game, also against the Tiger-Cats, on June 23, 2024, Ajou scored his first career touchdown on a 40-yard pass from Trevor Harris.[6] He became the first seventh-round draft pick to score a touchdown in franchise history.[6]
Ajou recorded his first 100-yard game on July 19, 2024, against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, when he recorded four catches for 110 yards, all in the second half, in a relief performance for the injured Kian Schaffer-Baker.[7]
Personal life
editAjou was raised in Brooks, Alberta by his mother who immigrated from South Sudan.[3]
References
edit- ^ "Ajou Ajou". Clemson Tigers. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Ajou Ajou". Saskatchewan Roughriders. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f "2024 CFL Draft profiles: former Clemson REC Ajou Ajou not thrilled by fall from grace". 3DownNation. March 24, 2024.
- ^ "Riders sign seven of their 2024 CFL Draft selections". Canadian Football League. July 19, 2024.
- ^ a b "Game notes" (PDF). Canadian Football League. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
- ^ a b "Rider review: TD, TD for Ajou Ajou over two home games". Saskatchewan Roughriders. June 24, 2024.
- ^ "Roughriders improve to 5-1 with 19-9 win over Winnipeg". Saskatchewan Roughriders. July 19, 2024.