Framingham State Alum Makes NFL Debut For Seattle Seahawks

GLENDALE, AZ — Joshua Onujiogu was a Framingham State University football star. The linebacker won MASCAC Defensive Player of the Year honors twice, a mark that's hard to match.

But Division III football players have a hard time cracking NFL rosters.

For Onujiogu, who was undrafted out of Framingham State in 2022, add taking a professional field to his impressive resume.

Onujiogu suited up for the Seattle Seahawks when they faced the Arizona Cardinals in Week 9, marking the first NFL action of his career.

The linebacker was promoted from the Seahawks practice squad on Saturday ahead of the matchup as the team was dealing with injuries at the position. For Onujiogu, who actually made the 53-man roster out of training camp, but has spent the year with the practice squad, it's the continuation of a process he hopes will land him a regular roster spot.

"Even though everything was stacked against me, I still kept pushing," he said, in an interview with The News Tribune.

"I told everybody that I was going to make it here one day. When everybody said ‘There’s no way, I said: ‘There is a way!’"

According to Framingham State University's website, Onujiogu is a Wareham native and attended Wareham High School. In his last two years at Framingham State, he totaled 22 sacks and 130 total tackles.