Photo by: Ben Solomon/Rutgers Athletics
Mayan Ahanotu: Making a Difference
Nov 10 | Football
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – A leader on and off the field for the Scarlet Knights, Mayan Ahanotu earned a spot on the Wuerffel Trophy watch list this season. The award annually recognizes college football student-athletes who serve others, celebrate their positive impact on society and inspire greater service in the world. That definition accurately describes the fifth-year senior captain.
From Tampa, Florida, Ahanotu grew up around football. His father, Chidi, played 12 years at defensive end in the NFL with five different teams, totaling 436 career tackles, 46.5 sacks and seven fumble recoveries. That includes being named one of the top 100 players in the history of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"I've been growing up with football around me this whole time," Mayan said. "It is so helpful that I have a father in my life that can help me along this journey that he has been through already. Every game that I've ever played he will record it, then watch it like three times and end up calling me breaking it all down."
Ahanotu is also part of the Berkeley Prep connection at Rutgers. One of four players on the roster from the Tampa-area school, along with Austin Dean, Gavin Rupp and Joshua Youngblood, Ahanotu first met head coach Greg Schiano at the scholastic level. Schiano worked as the assistant defensive line coach for the team.
"It was a great experience to have like an NFL coach coming to our practices and teaching us the ins and outs of the game," Ahanotu recalled. "It was like we were getting an even extra lesson on top of what a regular high schooler would be getting."
After starting his collegiate career at Minnesota, Ahanotu decided to enter the transfer portal in 2020 and it became clear to reunite with Schiano at Rutgers.
"I trust Coach Schiano, what he was building, and I trust all the people that was around him," Ahanotu said of the decision. "So, it really was a no-brainer for me."
Ahanotu enters this weekend's game against Michigan State having played in 31 consecutive games as a mainstay on the defensive line. The RU defense is top-25 nationally in total defense (18th, 310.6) and passing defense (21st, 183.1).
But just as impactful as his contributions on the field, Ahanotu, a two-time member of the Academic All-Big Ten list, serves as a captain and is among the leaders within the Chop4Change program. The program was created spread a message of unity and equality amidst the national social justice discussion. It also involves giving back to the community through various forms, including donating 1,000 new winter coats, distributing 400 $200 ShopRite gift cards for Easter dinner, dispensing 150 headsets for children to learn at home during the pandemic and delivering school supplies to elementary schools previously attended by players. Overall, the program has raised over $250,000.
"I think giving back to the community is very important," Ahanotu said. "Like what we say in Chop4Change, we are just going to start small, then hopefully greater things are going to come and there is going to be a more nationwide impact. I think it is really important for Chop4Change to just be around the community and help out as much as we can."
One of the other programs within Chop4Change, which is seen on the Rutgers football helmets, that Ahanotu has taken part in is being a weekly mentor for the Middlesex Juvenile Detention Center. That includes leading sessions with incarcerated young men.
"What we would do, since we couldn't go inside and visit all the time, was set up Zoom meetings at least once a week and just talk about our culture and talk about how they can make a change in their life. It is not over from here you can still make up for the mistakes that you made."
It is this type of leadership that has earned Ahanotu the respect of his teammates, positively impacting others on and off the field.
Follow Rutgers football on Twitter (@RFootball & @RutgersFBfans), Facebook (/RFootballShow) and Instagram (@rfootball) for the latest news and updates. Also subscribe to the YouTube channel.
From Tampa, Florida, Ahanotu grew up around football. His father, Chidi, played 12 years at defensive end in the NFL with five different teams, totaling 436 career tackles, 46.5 sacks and seven fumble recoveries. That includes being named one of the top 100 players in the history of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"I've been growing up with football around me this whole time," Mayan said. "It is so helpful that I have a father in my life that can help me along this journey that he has been through already. Every game that I've ever played he will record it, then watch it like three times and end up calling me breaking it all down."
Ahanotu is also part of the Berkeley Prep connection at Rutgers. One of four players on the roster from the Tampa-area school, along with Austin Dean, Gavin Rupp and Joshua Youngblood, Ahanotu first met head coach Greg Schiano at the scholastic level. Schiano worked as the assistant defensive line coach for the team.
"It was a great experience to have like an NFL coach coming to our practices and teaching us the ins and outs of the game," Ahanotu recalled. "It was like we were getting an even extra lesson on top of what a regular high schooler would be getting."
After starting his collegiate career at Minnesota, Ahanotu decided to enter the transfer portal in 2020 and it became clear to reunite with Schiano at Rutgers.
"I trust Coach Schiano, what he was building, and I trust all the people that was around him," Ahanotu said of the decision. "So, it really was a no-brainer for me."
Ahanotu enters this weekend's game against Michigan State having played in 31 consecutive games as a mainstay on the defensive line. The RU defense is top-25 nationally in total defense (18th, 310.6) and passing defense (21st, 183.1).
But just as impactful as his contributions on the field, Ahanotu, a two-time member of the Academic All-Big Ten list, serves as a captain and is among the leaders within the Chop4Change program. The program was created spread a message of unity and equality amidst the national social justice discussion. It also involves giving back to the community through various forms, including donating 1,000 new winter coats, distributing 400 $200 ShopRite gift cards for Easter dinner, dispensing 150 headsets for children to learn at home during the pandemic and delivering school supplies to elementary schools previously attended by players. Overall, the program has raised over $250,000.
"I think giving back to the community is very important," Ahanotu said. "Like what we say in Chop4Change, we are just going to start small, then hopefully greater things are going to come and there is going to be a more nationwide impact. I think it is really important for Chop4Change to just be around the community and help out as much as we can."
One of the other programs within Chop4Change, which is seen on the Rutgers football helmets, that Ahanotu has taken part in is being a weekly mentor for the Middlesex Juvenile Detention Center. That includes leading sessions with incarcerated young men.
"What we would do, since we couldn't go inside and visit all the time, was set up Zoom meetings at least once a week and just talk about our culture and talk about how they can make a change in their life. It is not over from here you can still make up for the mistakes that you made."
It is this type of leadership that has earned Ahanotu the respect of his teammates, positively impacting others on and off the field.
Follow Rutgers football on Twitter (@RFootball & @RutgersFBfans), Facebook (/RFootballShow) and Instagram (@rfootball) for the latest news and updates. Also subscribe to the YouTube channel.
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