Hakeem Adeniji facts for kids

Hakeem Adeniji (born December 8, 1997) is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Kansas Jayhawks. At Kansas, he was a twice All-Big 12 selection, making the first-team in 2019 and second-team in 2018. He was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round (180th overall) of the 2020 NFL draft.

Early life

Adeniji attended high school at Garland High School in Texas. In high school, he had committed to play at the United States Air Force Academy. However, he failed to receive a medical waiver to attend due to an allergy to cashews. After failing to receive the waiver, he committed to the University of Kansas.

College career

As a freshman, Adeniji became a starter at tackle immediately, starting all twelve games. Throughout his college career, Adeniji showed durability, not missing a single game due to injury. By the end of his senior year, he had been on the roster for 48 games and started in all of them. In his junior and senior years, he helped pave the way for running back Pooka Williams Jr. to rush for over 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons. For his efforts, he was named 2nd team All-Big 12 Conference as a junior and 1st team as a senior.

Professional career

Pre-draft

Adeniji was invited to the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine. Although he played tackle at Kansas, NFL Analyst Lance Zierlein said he believed Adeniji may have to move to guard in the NFL.

Cincinnati Bengals

Adeniji was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals with the 180th overall selection in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL draft. In week 8 of the 2020 season, he recorded his first career start at tackle. He helped the Bengals, who had allowed 28 sacks through 7 games, allow zero sacks in the game for the first time all season. He finished his rookie season with five starts and played in fifteen games.

Adeniji tore his pectoral muscle during offseason workouts and had season ending surgery to repair it in June 2021. He was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list following the preseason. He was activated on November 4, 2021. In his first game back from injury, he made his sixth career start against the Cleveland Browns. He finished the season starting in and playing in nine games. He also got the start for the Bengals in their postseason victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, which was the Bengals first playoff win in 31 years.

Adeniji began the 2022 season as the backup right tackle behind La'el Collins on the depth chart, he would be the team's swing tackle in all plays requiring six offensive linemen. Collins was injured in the Week 16 game against the New England Patriots, leading Adeniji to become the starting right tackle for the rest of the season and the playoffs. In the AFC Championship Game against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Bengals offensive line allowed three sacks, two of which from Chris Jones, the right side defensive end.

Adeniji was waived by the Bengals on August 29, 2023.

Minnesota Vikings

On August 31, 2023, Adeniji was signed to the practice squad of the Minnesota Vikings. On October 5, 2023, he was signed to the active roster.

Cleveland Browns

On March 13, 2024, Adeniji signed with the Cleveland Browns. He was placed on injured reserve on August 19.

Personal life

His mother, Joke, was a television anchor in Nigeria before the family moved to the Dallas area. His brother, Moshood, played offensive line at Air Force.

Adeniji married a woman named Kayla in July 2021. On November 4, 2024, the couple released a statement via Instagram saying that their first son, Semiu Zade Adeniji, had been stillborn on November 2, 2024. "The fact that he is gone has set in now and nothing can change that," Adeniji wrote on Instagram on November 11, 2024. "I'll never get to see him grow up, and he'll never get to read his journal I wrote for him. I miss him and I'll miss him everyday for the rest of my life."