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Pronunciation: oh-SHIM-ago a-TOG-way
At Stanford: A starter the past two seasons and 22 consecutive games, Atogwe enters the 2004 campaign as one of the best safeties in college football and a legitimate honors candidate ... He was the Cardinal's starter at strong safety in 2002 and team's starter at free safety in 2003 ... He is an active, aggressive, play-maker who will be the team's top defensive weapon this season ... He has led the team in tackles the past two years while also accounting for five interceptions, nine forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries ... Fifth-year senior who is one of the team leaders both on and off the field ... Along with Jared Newberry, one of two team captains for the 2004 season ... Member of the Cardinal's track and field team the for two seasons.
The 2004 Season: Game-By-Game Statistics
The 2003 Season: Continued to garner a reputation as one of the top safeties in all of college football by turning in an outstanding junior campaign ... He proved to be one of the most active and explosive defensive players in the Pac-10 ... He led the team in tackles with 90 for the second consecutive season and was fourth in the conference with an 8.2 tackles per game average ... He led the team and league in both fumbles forced (six total, 0.55 per game average) and fumble recoveries (six total, 0.55 per game average) ... He also had two interceptions, eight pass break-ups and five tackles for loss ... He was named Second-Team All-Pac-10 and co-MVP of the team (along with Luke Powell) ... He also won the team's Gundelach Award as the top junior in 2003 ... He was the only player in the Pac-10 to be among the top four in tackles per game, fumbles caused and fumble recoveries ... Started all 11 games at free safety ... Recorded 11 or more tackles in four games ... He had 11 total tackles, two forced fumbles and one tackle for loss against Arizona State ... Recorded 12 tackles, a forced fumble and fumble recovery vs. Washington ... Scored a touchdown at USC when he stripped the ball from the Trojan kick returner and raced 22 yards for the score ... He also had 12 tackles and a tackle for loss against the Trojans ... Career best 14 total tackles, and one forced fumble, at Oregon State ... In the Big Game vs. Cal, he accounted for six tackles, two tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries.
The 2002 Season: In his first season in the starting lineup, Atogwe wound up leading the team in tackles with 71 while starting all 11 games at strong safety ... Winner of the Deswarte-Eller Award as the team's Most Outstanding Sophomore ... He also led the team in interceptions (three) and forced fumbles (three) while accounting for one quarterback sack, one tackle for loss and four pass breakups ... Season bests in tackles include 13 vs. Oregon and 11 vs. Notre Dame and Oregon State ... Against the Ducks, he also returned an interception 17 yards to the Oregon 27, setting up Stanford's first TD of the game ... Returned an interception 26 yards at Notre Dame ... One of his most productive games came against Washington State when he had four tackles, one sack, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and return of 42 yards and one pass breakup ... His fumble return led to a Cardinal field goal.
The 2001 Season: Earned his first varsity letter as a reserve safety and special teams player ... Played in all 12 games during the 2001 campaign and recorded four total tackles.
The 2000 Season: Redshirted the season as a true freshman.
In Track: Member of Stanford's nationally-ranked track team in 2001 and 2002 ... Participated in the sprints and jumps ... Best marks in 2002 included 22-10 in the long jump and 43-3 3/4 in the triple jump.
In High School: One of the top prep players in Canada ... Named All-Canadian, All-Ontario and All-Academic ... Played four sports at W.F. Herman Secondary School ... Was a two-year starter at running back and cornerback ... Named the league's defensive MVP in 1999 ... Also chosen All-City as a running back ... Played in the Ontario Varsity Football League during the summer of '99 ... He was the defensive back of the year in the league after intercepting six passes in five games ... League MVP in basketball as a senior and three-time all-city selection in basketball ... Played three years of varsity soccer ... Competed in the long jump, triple jump and 200m (22.8) in track.
Personal Information: Biological Sciences major ... Went by O.J. his first two years at Stanford ... Parents are of Nigerian descent.
Atogwe's Career Statistics
Year | UT | AT | TT | Sack/Yds | TFL/Yds | Int |
| 2001 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 |
| 2002 | 47 | 24 | 71 | 1/16 | 1/16 | 3 |
| 2003 | 54 | 36 | 90 | 0/0 | 5/11 | 2 |
| Totals | 104 | 61 | 165 | 1/16 | 6/27 | 5 |
Getting to Know: Oshiomogho Atogwe
Nickname: O.J., Pico, Juice, Shum
What people don't know about me is:I collect comic books
My favorite pre-game ritual is: Listening to music, and praying
My favorite stadium in which to play is: Memorial Stadium, Berkeley
A friend from another college football team is: Dan Lumley, University of Kentucky; Andrew Brown, Lafayette University
The reason I chose Stanford University is: It's the best combination of Athletics and Academics
The best thing about Stanford is: Its diversity
The teammate I admire the most is: Timi Wusu
What sets Stanford apart from other college football programs? My teammates
My least favorite class at Stanford is: Ihum
My favorite class at Stanford is: Introduction to Christianity
The sports team I followed when I was younger: Detroit Lions
When I played football as a kid, I pretended to be: Walter Payton
The athlete I admire most is: Muhammad Ali
The people I admire most is: My parents
If I could spend a day with anyone, it would be: Jesus
Best book I have read: The Bible
Favorite food: Barbecue Ribs
Least Favorite food: tofu
If I had to cook all of my meals, I'd probably survive on: cereal, hot dogs and hamburgers
Favorite movie: The Matrix Trilogy and Love Jones
Favorite TV show: The Cosby Show and Dragonball Z
Favorite actor: Al Pacino, Denzel Washington
If a movie were made of my life, I would have the following actor play me: Omar Epps or Maurice Chestnut
Favorite musical group or performer: Jay-Z and Michael Jackson
If I were not playing college football, I would be: Playing college basketball
The person who had the greatest influence on my life: My brother
One moment in history I wish I could have seen: The resurrection of Jesus Christ
The three people in history I admire most are: Jesus, Muhammad Ali, Bruce Lee
The place I'd most like to visit: Brazil
The favorite place I've visited: Nigeria
Hobbies: watch cartoons, collect action figures and DVDs
Ten years from now, I'd like to be: playing in the NFL
My advice to youngsters: Continue to work hard, and have faith in God
My most prized possession: My family and friends
The best advice I ever received was: Do the best you can do, and live the rest up to God & never be satisfied