BJ Ojulari recalls recruitment, relationship with Georgia-alum brother Azeez Ojulari

For LSU edge rusher BJ Ojulari, the SEC Championship represents a sort of homecoming. As a Georgia native, he’s going to be playing against the team that represents his state, in a game that’s played in Atlanta. In fact, his brother, Azeez Ojular, even played for Georgia before moving on to the NFL.

BJ Ojulari was asked about this, including how Georgia recruited him and what led to him going to LSU instead of Georgia.

“Yeah, Georgia did a great job recruiting me at the time. Coach [Dan] Lanning, a great outside linebacker coach, D coordinator, as well as the coach of my brother. My brother did a good job as well recruiting me to Georgia,” BJ Ojulari said.

He explained that his decision was much more about going his own way, instead of following someone’s footsteps.

“For my decision, I just wanted to follow my own destiny, build a name for myself somewhere else. My brother, he tried hard to get me to Georgia. I was very close, as well. But my heart said different. Coach O and his staff did an amazing job just showing me how special I was to them, how bad they wanted me to come play for LSU. At the end I think I made the right decision for myself.”

Later, BJ Ojulari was asked how much he’s spoken to his brother this week.

“Yeah, we’ve been talking ever since we found out that we were going to be the SEC West champions. He’s been just giving a little banter here and there since he went to Georgia,” BJ Ojulari explained. “But he’s all positive. He wants to see me succeed. But I know he’s going to be rooting for Georgia.”

BJ Ojulari on how LSU got here

Last season was a difficult one for LSU. The Tigers didn’t play to expectations and went through a coaching change because of it. Now, in the SEC Championship Game, BJ Ojulari explained what happened.

“I just think as a team we just knew the type of talent and the potential that we have. So for us, it was just buying into what Coach [Brian] Kelly had planned for us, his process,” BJ Ojulari explained.

“I think when we bought in, we knew the sky was the limit for us. Really just coming each week and applying that process, just taking it week by week, seeing where it goes. Ultimately it ended up being the SEC West champions.”