A second-round pick out of Clemson who broke out in his sophomore campaign, Ruke Orhorhoro brings interior pass-rush juice to the Jaguars' defensive line.
Ruke Orhorhoro was the first defensive player the Falcons picked in the 2024 draft, and after two seasons developing in Atlanta's front, he expanded his role significantly in 2025. He now brings that momentum to Jacksonville's defensive tackle rotation.
Path to the league
Orhorhoro played five seasons at Clemson from 2019 to 2023, finishing his college career with 97 tackles, including 25.5 for loss, 12 sacks, nine pass breakups and two fumble recoveries over 53 games. His redshirt senior season, in which he posted eight tackles for loss and a career-high five sacks, earned him third-team All-ACC honors and helped him become the Falcons' second-round pick, 35th overall, in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Career highlights
Orhorhoro was the first defensive player Atlanta selected in the 2024 draft class. He steadily earned more playing time in his first two NFL seasons, developing alongside the Falcons' young defensive front before an offseason trade sent him to Jacksonville.
2025 season recap
Orhorhoro played all 17 games for Atlanta in 2025, finishing with 25 tackles, 3.5 sacks and a pass defense while starting eight of the Falcons' final 12 games. He formed part of a young defensive front alongside rookie first-rounders Jalon Walker and James Pearce before the offseason trade that sent him to Jacksonville.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Ruke Orhorhoro
- Pro Football Reference: Ruke Orhorhoro
Statistics
2025 season and career2025 Season · Defense
17 games played▶Defense · career
| Year | Team | GP | TOT | SOLO | SACK | INT | FF | FR | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | falcons | 17 | 25 | 12 | 3.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2024 | falcons | 8 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Defensive Tackle
- Group
- defense
- College
- Clemson
- Hometown
- Lagos, Nigeria
- Age
- 24
- Status
- active
