EXCLUSIVE: Jaguars' UK rookie names trailblazing Giants star as his inspiration for pursuing NFL

Rookie cornerback Ayo Oyelola is on the Jacksonville Jaguars' practice squad as he was signed to the team on March 3 this year as part of the International Player Pathway program. He has now revealed which player provided him great motivation to seek a career in NFL.

He is currently one of seven players on an active roster who came through the program and has had a rather more interesting path to the NFL. He played other sports growing up in London such as soccer, track, rugby, cross country, and a little bit of cricket.

However, Oyelola said that he was introduced to football in college and fell in love instantly.

“I’ve always known about the NFL. I wasn’t really introduced to it until I was in university and I wasn’t playing any sports professionally anymore, so I thought, ‘That looks cool, let me try that'. I went and tried it, and I fell in love with it the minute I tried it.”

He added that the player that motivated him the most is New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley. Speaking before his team faced the Giants this past Sunday, he had said:

"Crazy because we’re playing the Giants this week, but Saquon Barkley (RB). Watching him in film like, this is the guy we’re about to play?”

The Jaguars fell to the Giants on Sunday and Barkley had an impressive day, carrying the ball 24 times for 110 yards.

Jaguars' Ayo Oyelola opens up about his rerelationship with his coaches

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie defensive back Ayo Oyelola

Oyelola works directly under Deshea Townsend, who is the team's passing game coordinator and cornerbacks coach, and Cody Grimm, who is the team's safeties coach.

He said that in his short time working under them, he's learned so much. Oeylola also added that they're not rushing him to do anything big as he is still recent to the game of football.

“My relationship with Deshea Townsend and Cody Grimm, both great coaches, both really smart, both great teachers. I say the relationship I have with them is that they definitely see that I work really hard.

"I think they appreciate that, and they understand that I haven’t been playing as long as everyone else, and they don’t try to rush the process, and they help me through it. They demand it, but they don’t rush it. I feel like the amount of information I’ve learned in such a short period of time is crazy. They’ve taught me a lot."

Oyelola is currently on the practice squad for the Jaguars and is hoping he can be elevated to the active roster one day.

This Sunday, the Jaguars return to his home of London as they face the Denver Broncos at 9:30 AM ET. The return will be special for Oyelola.

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