B.J. Raji life and biography

B.J. Raji is an American football nose tackle for the Green Bay Packers of the NFL.

• Named to the Pro Football Weekly/PFWA All-Rookie team, the first Packers defensive lineman to be selected since DE Vonnie Holliday in 1998.
• A first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection in 2008, when he became the first Boston College DT to lead his team in sacks (eight) in 23 years.
• Nearly one-third (32½ of 105, 31 percent) of his tackles in college were behind the line of scrimmage.
• In 1967, 42 years prior, Packers selected another Boston College product, OL Bob Hyland, with the No. 9 overall pick in the draft.
• Grew up the son of two Pentecostal ministers.

PRO CAREER:
Mammoth but mobile lineman contributed at multiple spots along the line as a rookie in 2009, and will look to continue to offer that versatility in his second season... Is expected to compete for starting left end position while also providing depth at nose tackle... Played in 14 games with one start in ’09, seeing most of his time at both end spots and as a down lineman in nickel... Saw increased time at NT down the stretch when veteran starter Ryan Pickett battled a hamstring injury... Named to the Pro Football Weekly/PFWA All-Rookie team, becoming the first Green Bay defensive lineman to earn the recognition since DE Vonnie Holliday in 1998... Was part of a defensive-line rotation that helped the Packers lead the NFL in rushing for the first time in franchise history, allowing a team-record 83.3 yards per game... Rookie campaign got off to a slow start when he didn’t sign a contract until Aug. 14, which caused him to miss the first two weeks of practice... Sprained his ankle in the preseason finale at Tennessee (Sept. 3), which sidelined him for the first two regular-season games... Was a three-year starter at Boston College who anchored one of the nation’s top run defenses in 2008... Made an impact as soon as he arrived at BC, working his way into the defensive-tackle rotation as a true freshman and becoming a full-time starter his sophomore and junior seasons... Had to sit out the 2007 campaign, finding out the night before the season opener he was academically ineligible due to a clerical error by an academic advisor in calculating his credits... Spent that season honing his skills and technique on the scout team, working against the first-string on a daily basis... Returned to the field for his senior campaign in 2008 and made it his best year, earning first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference as well as various All-America honors, and concluding with a trip to the Senior Bowl... Leading a defense that ranked seventh in the nation in run defense, allowing 91.2 yards per game on the ground, was tops on his team with 16 tackles for loss, including eight sacks, the first defensive tackle to lead Boston College in sacks in 23 years... For his career, played in 49 games with 37 starts and recorded 105 tackles (59 solo), 12½ sacks, 32½ tackles for loss, one forced fumble and nine passes broken up... Perhaps most impressive is that nearly one-third (32½ of 105, 31 percent) of his tackles were behind the line of scrimmage... Came to Boston College as an all-state performer from Westwood Regional High in Washington Township, N.J., where he grew up the son of two Pentecostal ministers.

COLLEGE:
A three-year starter for the Eagles, posted 105 tackles (59 solo), 12½ sacks, 32½ tackles for loss, and nine passes defensed during his career... Nearly one-third of his tackles (32½ of 105, 31 percent) were behind the line of scrimmage... Graduated with a degree in sociology... Senior season (2008): Was named first-team All-ACC, totaling a team-high eight sacks and 16 tackles for loss among 42 total tackles (22 solo) while starting all 13 games... Also batted down five passes... Received several All-American honors — second-team by Rivals.com, third-team by The Associated Press and Scout.com, and honorable mention from Pro Football Weekly and SI.com... Became the first DT to lead the Eagles in sacks since Mike Ruth in 1985... Received the Mary M. and William H. Sullivan Jr. ’37 scholarship... Led a defense that ranked seventh in the nation in run defense, allowing just 91.2 yards per game on the ground... Posted two sacks on back-to-back plays at Wake Forest (Nov. 22)... Finished his career with five tackles (tying his career high of four solo), including three for loss, one sack and one deflected pass in Music City Bowl vs. Vanderbilt (Dec. 31)... Redshirt season (2007): Redshirted due to academic ineligibility... On the eve of the season opener, found out about a clerical error by an academic advisor in the calculation of his credits... Spent the season practicing on the scout team... Junior season (2006): Started all 12 games and received second-team All-ACC honors... Posted 23 tackles (16 solo), 8½ tackles for loss, three sacks, one forced fumble and three batted passes... Sophomore season (2005): Started all 12 games and recorded 27 tackles (20 solo), 6½ tackles for loss, 1½ sacks and one batted pass... Established collegiate high of six tackles (three solo), including one tackle for loss, vs. Wake Forest (Oct. 15)... Freshman season (2004): Worked his way into the defensive-tackle rotation as a true freshman and posted 13 tackles (six solo) with 1½ tackles for loss.

PERSONAL:

Born Busari Raji Jr. in New York City, nicknamed B.J. Brother, Corey, plays basketball at Boston College... Parents, Mamie and Busari Sr., are Pentecostal ministers... High school: An all-state, all-north Jersey and all-county honoree as a senior at Westwood Regional High (Washington Township, N.J.), when he recorded 75 tackles, 7½ sacks and four forced fumbles... A three-year starter at both G and DT, was a two-time All-Bergen County Scholastic League selection... Was selected to play in the 2004 Governor’s Bowl, which pits the top seniors in New Jersey against those from New York... Was part of a state championship team as a freshman in 2000, and also lettered in basketball his freshman and sophomore years... Community involvement: Participated in the Pros vs. GI Joes event, playing an Xbox game against a solider overseas; also spent time with soldier’s family and local military in attendance... Coached youth football and youth basketball in New Jersey .

As Hobbies/interests: Enjoys playing video games and watching movies, naming Life with Eddie Murphy as his favorite.

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