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2006 (Senior)
Nose tackle Ola Dagunduro stepped into a starting role in 2006 and was a strong player in the middle of the Husker defensive front. Dagunduro and tackle Barry Cryer clogged up the middle of the defense, allowing the Husker ends and linebackers the ability to make plays.
Dagunduro started all 14 games and finished the year with 31 total tackles, including nine tackles for loss. His 3.5 sacks ranked third on the team, trailing only senior All-Big 12 ends Adam Carriker and Jay Moore. Dagunduro’s play helped the Nebraska defense limit six teams to less than 70 yards rushing and to rank in the top 25 nationally in scoring defense.
Dagunduro made at least two tackles in each of Nebraska’s final eight games and capped the year with his two best tackle efforts of the season. He made four stops against Oklahoma, helping the Blackshirt defense limit the Sooners to a season-low 42 yards rushing. He capped his NU career with a season-high five tackles, including a tackle for loss, in the Cotton Bowl against Auburn as Nebraska held the Tigers to 178 total yards.
The powerful Dagunduro had two tackles for loss each against Troy and Kansas State. He recorded his first sack of the year against Troy (10 yards), then added solo sacks against Kansas State (six yards) and Colorado (seven yards), while sharing a sack in Nebraska’s victory at Texas A&M.
Dagunduro also played in the middle on Nebraska’s kick block unit. He blocked an extra point against Texas and made a strong push into the Texas A&M backfield on a fourth-quarter Aggie field goal attempt, allowing Barry Turner to block the kick. Nebraska then moved down the field for a game-winning touchdown in a 28-27 victory.
2005 (Junior)
Dagunduro quickly impressed Husker coaches with his effort, and was chosen as the winner of Nebraska’s "Finisher" Award after spring ball in 2005. In the fall, Dagunduro played in all 12 games as the top backup behind Smith at nose tackle. He contributed 22 tackles, four tackles for loss, and two sacks, while his eight quarterback hurries were sixth-best on the team. He added a pair of pass breakups.
Dagunduro had a season-best effort against Wake Forest with seven tackles, including four solo stops and two tackles for loss. He recorded his first sack against Iowa State, then had a strong effort against Texas Tech with five tackles and a hurry. He capped the year with an impressive effort against Michigan in the Alamo Bowl. Dagunduro dropped Michigan quarterback Chad Henne for a six-yard sack in the second quarter, then scooped up a Henne fumble in the fourth quarter and returned it 13 yards to the Wolverine 17 to set up NU’s game-winning touchdown.
Before Nebraska (Inglewood HS/Compton CC)
Dagunduro played two seasons at Compton CC for Coach Angelo Jackson, and made 72 tackles in his sophomore year, including four sacks. Dagunduro also forced a pair of fumbles en route to all-conference honors. He was rated a four-star prospect by Rivals.com, the No. 50 junior college prospect by SuperPrep and the fifth-best junior college defensive tackle by College Football News.com. As a freshman, Dagunduro earned honorable-mention all-league honors.
Dagunduro was a standout performer at Inglewood High School near Los Angeles. Dagunduro chose Nebraska before taking a vist to the school, choosing the Huskers over San Diego State, Arizona and Colorado.
Personal
Dagunduro's full first name is Olatokunbo. He was born on Jan. 6, 1984 and his mother's name is Olasupo. Dagunduro is majoring in sociology at Nebraska, and is scheduled to graduate this December.
Dagunduro's Career Statistics
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Tackles |
. |
. |
Fum. |
. |
. |
. |
QB |
|
Year |
G/S |
UT |
AT |
TT |
TFL |
Sacks |
C-R |
BK |
PBU |
PI |
Hry. |
| 2005 |
12/0 |
13 |
9 |
22 |
4-15 |
2-12 |
0-1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
8 |
| 2006 |
14/14 |
14 |
17 |
31 |
9-31 |
3.5-25 |
0-0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
|
Totals |
26/14 |
27 |
26 |
53 |
13-46 |
5.5-37 |
0-1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
11 |
Single-Game Bests:
Tackles– 7 vs. Wake Forest, 2005
Solo Tackles–4 vs. Wake Forest, 2005
Tackles for Loss–2 three times, most recently vs. Kansas State, 2006
Sacks–1 five times, most recently vs. Colorado, 2006
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Courtesy: Scott Bruhn/NU Media Relations
