Tunde Ayinla

Height:
6-0
Weight:
249
Class:
Senior
Letters:
3
Hometown:
Canton, Ga.
High School:
Cherokee HS

2014 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll

2015 at MERCER: Played in seven games during junior season before suffering a season-ending injury … Made six starts on the year … Totaled 15 tackles (3 solo, 12 assisted) … Finished with 1.5 tackles-for-loss … Also recorded two quarterback hurries … Had a season-high six tackles including one for loss against Wofford (Oct. 3).

2014 at MERCER: Started all 12 games at defensive end for Mercer during sophomore campaign … Named to the SoCon Academic Honor Roll ... Ranked fifth on the team with 49 total tackles (23 solo, 26 assisted) … Had five or more tackles in six contests … Finished third on the team with 4.5 tackles-for-loss and two sacks … Led the Bears with two forced fumbles … Also notched one quarterback hurry … Tallied five tackles including a season-high 2.5 tackles-for-loss and two forced fumbles in a win at Stetson (Sept. 13) … Recorded four tackles including a sack at Samford (Oct. 4).

2013 at MERCER: Started all 12 games at defensive end as a true freshman … Named to the Pioneer Football League Honor Roll … Totaled 32 tackles (13 solo, 19 assisted) on the season … Ranked third on the team with 7.5 tackles for loss … Credited with one or more tackles for loss in five contests … Finished second on the squad with four sacks … Also tallied one quarterback hurry … Notched two tackles and one sack in collegiate debut against Reinhardt … Had a season-best two tackles for loss in a win over Warner … Recorded a career-high five tackles in wins over Campbell and Valparaiso.

HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Cherokee High school in Canton, Ga., where he played football under head coach Josh Shaw … Was a two-time selection to the Cherokee Tribune’s All-County team and twice selected to the Cherokee Tribune’s Super Six team … Named to the All-Region team and received Team MVP honors in 2012.

PERSONAL: Born on June 15, 1994 to parents Sikiru Ayinla and Bola Ayinla in Lagos, Nigeria … Has two siblings, Peju and Samuel … Chose Mercer because of the coaching staff and its ability to form a family atmosphere within the team in such a short amount of time … Majoring in political science.