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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois defensive end Oluwole Betiku, Jr. signed a free agent contract with the New York Giants, the team announced Tuesday. Betiku declared for the NFL Draft after earning All-Big Ten third team honors during his one season in Champaign. 

Betiku will look to join a long list of undrafted former Fighting Illini to make it in the NFL. In 2019, a total of 21 former Illini were on NFL rosters and practice squads, including 11 undrafted free agents – WR Geronimo Allison (Packers), LB James Crawford (Dolphins), OL Christian DiLauro (Steelers practice squad), RB Josh Ferguson (Redskins), CB Justin Hardee (Saints), TE Matt LaCosse (Patriots), PK Chase McLaughlin (Chargers/49ers/Colts), LB Hardy Nickerson (Bengals), DE Carroll Phillips (Redskins), LB Del'Shawn Phillips (Bills practice squad), WR Malik Turner (Seahawks).

Illinois has a habit of producing undrafted NFL contributors, like recent NFL veterans Steve Weatherford (NFL 10 seasons), Pierre Thomas (nine seasons), and Jeff Cumberland (seven seasons), along with current NFL veterans like LaCosse (five seasons, currently with the Patriots), Allison (four seasons, currently with the Packers), Hardee (three seasons, currently with Saints), Nickerson (three seasons, currently with Bengals) and more.

2019 Highlights (RS Junior)
» Declared for the 2020 NFL Draft after one season at Illinois (graduate transfer from USC)
» Played in 10 games and started nine at defensive end (missed three games with an injury)
» All-Big Ten third team (media) 
» 36 tackles, 13.0 TFLs, 9.0 sacks, seven quarterback hurries on the season
» 11th in the nation and second in the Big Ten in sacks per game (0.90) 
» 22nd in the nation and fifth in the Big Ten in TFLs per game (1.3)
» Tied for seventh in Illinois single-season history with 9.0 sacks
» Led Illinois in sacks (9.0) and was second in TFLs (13.0)
» Sack vs. No. 6 Wisconsin 10/19/19 to help Illinois win 24-23 and complete one of the biggest upsets in Big Ten history
» Career-high 3.5 sacks at UConn 9/7/19, tied for the fifth-most sacks in a single game in Illinois history
» Earned bachelor's degree in international relations from USC in May 2019
» Grad transfer pursued a master's degree in recreation, sport & tourism at Illinois

From Illinois to New York.

Congrats to @Kingwolehoudini on signing with the @Giants. ???? pic.twitter.com/CLGwJ3Y704

— Illinois Football (@IlliniFootball) April 28, 2020