Welcome to the 2020 FCS Jersey Countdown.
Throughout the May-August months, HERO Sports is going to name the best returning FCS player by jersey number, 99-1. Due to rosters being updated at different times for teams across the country and to keep things consistent, jersey numbers are based on the 2019 season.
The full 99-1 countdown/schedule can be found here.
*Note: Jersey numbers are based on 2019 rosters.
58: Chris Ojoh, LB (Jr.) — Eastern Washington
Ojoh burst onto the FCS scene during the second half of the 2018 season. He was inserted into the starting lineup mid-October and stayed there the rest of the season, playing his best ball during EWU’s run to the national title game.
Ojoh had double-digit tackles in three of the four playoff games, including 11 total tackles, 10 solo, two tackles for loss and one sack in the championship game. He finished the season with 105 total tackles and 8.5 TFLs.
The 6-foot-1, 220-pounder had big expectations entering 2019. He started the first three games of the season, highlighted by an 11-tackle performance against Washington. But Ojoh suffered a lower-leg injury and sat out games until Oct. 26, where he returned and totaled nine tackles against Montana.
That would be the last action Ojoh saw in 2019, taking advantage of the four-game redshirt rule since he played as a true freshman in 2017.
Ojoh’s return will be a big boost for an EWU defense that saw its points per game go from 22.7 in 2018 to 34.6 last year. He is a HERO Sports preseason Third Team All-American.
