GRIDIRON WILL
Ojabo on verge of £15m deal & wants to inspire Scots
DAVID Ojabo has told of his quest to inspire young Scots as he stands on the brink of landing his first £15million NFL contract. The star linebacker, from Aberdeen, has announced he is entering the “draft” in American Football that matches the best young players with pro teams. He is expected to be an elite first round pick with his first year contract alone worth an estimated £15million. But despite the big time and big bucks looming, the pass rusher in the world’s biggest paying team sport has made it clear that a major driving force has been the desire to inspire young Scots to chase their dreams. David told the Record: “If I had a message for young people like me back in Scotland, I’d say they should follow their own dream and they can make it come true.
“If anyone back home takes inspiration from me then that’s great.
“All you need is a lot of self belief and hard work.”
David’s original dream was to be a pro basketball player after starring for Scotland as a teenager. But he never made the grade at high school and ended up begging for a chance with his high school gridiron squad, despite not even knowing the rules.
He said: “Even three years ago I honestly didn’t know a thing about football but it’s funny the way things turn out. It’s a big weight off my mind now that I’m heading for the draft but I still have a lot of work to do.”
David moved to Scotland with his family as a child as oilman dad Victor’s job with Shell took him to Aberdeen.
He left the granite city at 15 to head to a boarding school in Blairstown, New Jersey, while his family stayed at home.
After his basketball career bombed, he learned his trade as a linebacker, bulking himself up in the gym in three whirlwind years, making him one of the hottest prospects in the sport.
David firmly regards Scotland as home and often tells US interviewers about his love for the hills and glens around Aberdeen. He said: “I can’t explain it but the wild countryside and the beautiful landscape just makes the place peaceful and special and it’s where my heart is.”
David’s dad, Victor, and mum Ngor, a lawyer, watched their boy steal the limelight in massive matches with the Michigan Wolverines as the college season reached a crescendo.
Ngor said: “He has worked so hard to get where he is..
“He loves coming home because he really does identify Scotland as his home.
“He was only seven when he left Nigeria, so all his really formative memories are here and this is where the family is.
“He always says that he will be coming back to live in Aberdeen at some point. He will have some big adventures to attend to before then.”