Azeez Al-Shaair’s College

Azeez Al-Shaair, a linebacker with the Houston Texans, was not selected in the 2019 NFL Draft and then signed with the San Francisco 49ers. He was born August 4, 1997, in Tampa, Florida, in the United States. In his final year at Hillsborough High School, he recorded two interceptions, three forced fumbles and recoveries, and 126 tackles with 6.5 sacks. After enrolling at Florida Atlantic University in 2015, he was chosen for the first team All C-USA in 2017.

Al-Shaair signed a one-year contract with the Tennessee Titans in 2023 after spending four seasons with the 49ers. In 2024, he then agreed to a three-year deal with the Houston Texans. In his six years in the NFL, he has made 73 appearances, starting 48 of them, and recorded 362 total tackles and 4.0 sacks as of the 2023 season. He also had 11 passes deflected, two interceptions, and four fumble recoveries.

What college did Azeez Al-Shaair attend?

Azeez Al-Shaair went to the Florida Atlantic University from 2015 to 2018.

Al-Shaair played linebacker for the Florida Atlantic Owls for four years. In his rookie season, he led the team with 94 tackles (7.5 for loss), 1.5 sacks, two passes broken up, and a forced fumble. He was also named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team and a Freshman All-American. As a sophomore, he received honorable mention All-Conference USA, leading the Owls in tackles once more with 113 (12 for loss), and returned an interception for a touchdown.

Al-Shaair was selected to the first team all-conference as a junior after leading Conference USA with 147 tackles (11 for loss), 2.5 sacks, four passes defensed, and a forced fumble. After six games in his final season, he tore his ACL in practice in October, despite being on the radar for the Butkus Award going into his senior year.

Azeez Al-Shaair’s High School

Al-Shaair was born in Tampa, Florida, and until his parents divorced, he spent his early years alternating between Tampa and Saudi Arabia, where his father taught English. His home burned down while he was a junior in high school, leaving him homeless in Section 8. From a motel, he took a two-hour bus ride to Hillsborough High School, where he played football.

Al-Shaair was selected to the first-team All-County team as a senior after recording 126 tackles, 6.5 sacks, two interceptions, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and blocking six field goals and a punt. Going into his senior year, he committed to play football for Florida Atlantic University, but he kept going on recruiting visits to support his family.