Ogunjobi becomes first 49er taken in NFL Draft

Monday, May 1, 2017

Defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi is a man of many firsts for the Charlotte 49ers football program.

A member of the 49ers first recruiting class, he was the first to wear the honorary No. 49 jersey. And, he was the first 49er to earn first team all-Conference USA honors. He recorded the 49ers first tackle for loss (TFL) and ranks first on the 49ers career list for tackles (217), TFL (49.0), sacks (13.0) and QB hurries (33).
 
Now he is the first 49ers football player to be taken in the NFL Draft.
 
"With the 65th pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns and the Dawg Pound select Larry Ogunjobi, D Tackle, Charlotte," announced Josh Cribbs, the Cleveland Browns 2011 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year.

 And with that, Ogunjobi, again, made history for the 49ers.
 
 "We're just really excited for Larry being taken in the NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns," said 49ers head coach Brad Lambert. "He'll bring a great work ethic to the Browns, just as he did here. He's been a great representative of our University and continues to elevate our program. He worked extremely hard in pursuit of his goals and I know he'll continue to work extremely hard at the next level. We could not be prouder of all that he has achieved and the type of player and person he has become."

After being selected, Ogunjobi, who played for Greensboro’s Ragsdale High School, said, "It hasn't really hit me, yet. A bunch of mixed emotions It's a blessing to be the first and to come out here and do what so many people said you couldn't do. You see all my friends and my family are around me. They're a part of me. They're the reason why I'm here. All the guys that helped me to reach this point. It's crazy how it all happened. (I wear) No. 65 to be drafted as the 65th pick. The story just keeps getting better, and I'm excited to see how it continues."

A first team all-Conference USA pick in 2016, he was a second-team all-league selection in 2015. He graduated in December 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and became the first 49er to participate in the Reese's Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine in 2017. He was listed on the National Watch Lists for the Bednarik Award (Top Defensive Player) and the Outland Trophy (Top Interior Lineman) during the 2016 season. He is the only player that started and played in all 46 games in the program's history. In the 49ers inaugural game, Aug. 31, 2013, he was selected by the coaching staff to wear the team's honorary No. 49 jersey. He was named to 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll.

 He helped the 49ers post a win against the first FBS opponent they ever faced (W, 23-20 at Georgia State, Sept. 4, 2015) and was instrumental as the 49ers picked up their first three Conference USA wins in 2016. As a senior, he ranked fourth in C-USA (all games) in TFL with 13.5 and second in C-USA games only with 11.5. He led C-USA defensive linemen in tackles in league games (6.9) and tackles in all games (5.5) and led Charlotte in tackles for loss for the fourth straight season with 13.5. Late in 2016, he was rated first by Pro Football Focus among NCAA interior defensive lineman in run-stop percentage, and he helped the 49ers rank third in the league in run defense (143.4 rushing yards allowed/game). His 49.0 career TFL ranked eighth among active NCAA FBS players at the end of the 2016 season.