Hard work is Adeyanju's forte

***RamWraith*** · -05-14-2006

By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Saturday, May. 13 2006

Like millions before them, Joseph and Deborah Adeyanju were looking for a
better life when they came to America 30 years ago.

"They heard America's a great place to be," son Victor Adeyanju said.

For Joseph, the "better life" has consisted of driving a cab for three decades
in Chicago.

"He's been robbed, had a gun put to his head and all that stuff," Victor said.
"It's a little bit safer now, because they've got the shields (in the cabs) ...
but it's still kind of a crazy job."

Despite those occupational hazards, America has proved to be a great place for
the Adeyanju family, which is of Nigerian ancestry. Five of Joseph's and
Deborah's six children are either in college or have college degrees.

Count Victor among that group - he received his bachelor's degree in general
studies from Indiana University in December. Even his mother, after years of
working as a secretary, recently earned a degree in sociology from Chicago
State.

Adeyanju, a defensive end, may not have to use his degree for a while. Not
after the Rams selected him in the fourth round of the NFL draft, No. 113
overall, on April 30.

As a second-day pick, Adeyanju won't make enough money to allow his dad to
retire. At least not right away. But that's the goal.

"As soon as I sign a contract and get some money, I'll definitely try to
contribute as much as possible," Adeyanju said. "But he is not one to stop
working. I told him, 'At least find another occupation.' He said he'll consider
it."

Adeyanju realizes this will be easier said than done.

"He's old school," Adeyanju said. "A hard worker, blue-collar type of guy. He
does not want to stop working for anybody."

Which kind of describes Adeyanju as a football player. His numbers weren't
flashy at IU. His highest sack total in four seasons as a starter for the
Hoosiers was 6 1/2 - last season. But he frequently did the dirty work for the
Indiana defense, fighting off double teams and stopping the run.

He was drafted with the idea of filling a similar role with the Rams, backing
up Leonard Little at left end.

"One of the things we wanted to address (in the draft) was our ability to line
up toe-to-toe with some of these people that get into these two-tight-end sets
and run the ball at you," Linehan said on the day Adeyanju was drafted. "We
have spent a lot of time figuring out a way we could get to him."

They got to him with a fourth-round pick acquired from San Diego in a trade
that sent tight end Brandon Manumaleuna to the Chargers. In essence, the Rams
traded one tongue- twisting last name for another.

Victor's last name is pronounced "ah-DAY-yahn-jew." But some of his Indiana
teammates had so much trouble getting that out that they began calling him
"Hakuna matata" from the song in the Disney move "The Lion King."

Contrary to information in some draft publications, Adeyanju is not a native of
Nigeria. Although his parents emigrated from Nigeria in the mid-1970s, Adeyanju
was born in Chicago.

But he was sent to Nigeria, along with the rest of his brothers and sisters, at
age 3. Adeyanju has older brother Richard to thank for this. According to the
Chicago Tribune, Richard was involved in a near-tragic accident at home when he
got into some chemicals in a sink.

Mom and Dad both were working at the time, and the incident slipped past the
baby sitter. So it was decided to send the kids to live with their grandmother
in Nigeria while the parents continued working in Chicago.

"Obviously, it was cheaper to live there, and there was somebody to watch us 24
hours," Adeyanju said.

Adeyanju and the rest of his siblings returned to Chicago four years later and
have been there ever since.

"I don't remember too much (of Nigeria)," Adeyanju said.

Soccer and basketball were his sports of preference growing up. He didn't start
playing football until he was in high school. Again, it was brother Richard who
was behind the switch to the gridiron.

"My brother told me I better go to the football team because I might not make
the basketball team in high school," Adeyanju recalled. "I ended up making both
teams. I told him he was a liar."

Entering his senior year at Curie High, Adeyanju was attracting a lot of
interest from college football recruiters.

But he suffered a broken fibula midway through his senior year, and a lot of
colleges lost interest.

"I had so many letters (from colleges), but you don't know who's really
recruiting you," Adeyanju said. "But I had a bunch of letters. All I know is I
went from about 20-30 calls a week to like four calls a week. As a young kid in
high school, that was pretty hurtful."

But Indiana stuck with him, and that's why Adeyanju will never say a bad word
about the Hoosiers. After all, they have helped bring him a big step closer to
getting his father out of that cab.

***Drew4EverRams*** · -05-14-2006

I love this pick for Big Vic,he filled an area of need,ok he may not be a sackmaster(yet!) but i think he will be a good player in the NFL for us,he has a lot of upside,has a good attitude and will help us out from day one in the rotation and before long(say 2 seasons) will IMHO be a starter for us!