Gottlieb Ayedze Bio
Gottlieb Ayedze is an American professional football offensive tackle born on April 10, 2000, in Germantown, Maryland. Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing around 140 kilograms, he brings imposing size to the offensive line. He played college football for the Frostburg State Bobcats before transferring to the Maryland Terrapins, and he entered the National Football League as an undrafted free agent in 2024.
Across his college and early professional journey, Ayedze earned three First-team All-MEC selections, demonstrating consistent dominance at the Division II level before proving himself against Big Ten competition. He has spent time with both the Philadelphia Eagles and the Las Vegas Raiders organizations, working to establish a long-term role at the professional level.
Early Life and Background
Gottlieb Ayedze was born in the United States and grew up with ties to both American and West African cultures. When he was five years old, his family relocated to Togo, where he spent a formative decade of his childhood. At the age of 15, Ayedze returned to the United States, settling in the Germantown area of Maryland and adjusting to a new environment while continuing his education.
He attended Northwest High School in Germantown, Maryland, where he lettered in both football and track and field. His combination of size, athleticism, and foot speed quickly marked him as a promising offensive line prospect. By the end of his high school career, Ayedze had committed to play college football at Frostburg State University, choosing a program where he could develop his craft and earn meaningful playing time early.
Path to American Football
Ayedze enrolled at Frostburg State University and immediately broke into the Bobcats’ rotation as a true freshman in 2019. Appearing in all 11 games that season, he helped the Frostburg State rushing attack accumulate 1,523 yards and 19 total touchdowns, an impressive start that signaled his long-term potential on the offensive line.
During the 2020 season, Ayedze played in three games and contributed to a rushing performance of more than 300 yards against Alderson Broaddus, earning his first All-MEC First Team selection. He built on that momentum in 2021, starting all 11 games and helping the Bobcats rush for 2,192 yards and 28 touchdowns, which brought a second consecutive First-team All-MEC honor. In 2022, he started every game once again, blocking for 2,104 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, and was named to the All-MEC First Team for the third straight year.
In December 2022, after three dominant seasons at Frostburg State, Ayedze announced that he would enter the transfer portal. On January 18, 2023, he confirmed his commitment to the Maryland Terrapins, jumping to the Big Ten Conference and the Football Bowl Subdivision for his final college season.
Gottlieb Ayedze Career
Early Career (2019–2022)
Ayedze’s college career began at Frostburg State, where he quickly established himself as one of the most reliable offensive linemen in the Mountain East Conference. From his freshman season onward, he was a fixture on the Bobcats’ offensive line, and his blocking helped produce back-to-back-to-back 1,500-yard-plus rushing seasons.
His three consecutive First-team All-MEC selections between 2020 and 2022 made him one of the most decorated linemen in Frostburg State history. That consistency drew the attention of larger programs, setting the stage for his high-profile transfer to Maryland.
Maryland Breakthrough (2023)
During the 2023 season with the Maryland Terrapins, Ayedze played in 11 games at right tackle and started the final 10 contests of the year. He provided protection for an offense that ranked fourth in the Big Ten in total offense, averaging 387.3 yards per game, and first in the conference in passing offense at 278.9 yards per game.
His transition from Division II to the Big Ten was widely regarded as a success, as he held his own against top-tier competition and proved that his dominance at Frostburg State could translate to a higher level. That performance positioned him for an opportunity in the NFL.
Philadelphia Eagles Era (2024)
Following the 2023 college season, Ayedze went unselected in the 2024 NFL Draft but quickly found an opportunity. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2024, beginning his professional career in the NFC East.
In a unique spring arrangement, Ayedze was also selected by the DC Defenders with the fourth overall pick in the 2024 UFL Draft on July 17, giving him a chance to gain additional game experience. The Eagles waived him on July 25, only to re-sign him on August 17, before waiving him again on August 27 as the team finalized its regular-season roster.
Las Vegas Raiders Era (2024–Present)
On September 25, 2024, Ayedze was signed to the Las Vegas Raiders practice squad, giving him a new opportunity to continue his professional development in the AFC West. He remained with the organization through the end of the regular season and signed a reserve and future contract with the Raiders on January 6, 2025.
That commitment underlined the Raiders’ belief in his long-term potential. However, on August 25, Ayedze was waived by Las Vegas as the team shaped its 2025 roster, leaving his next professional move still to be determined.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ayedze is a tall, long-limbed offensive tackle whose physical profile allows him to match up well with larger pass rushers on the edge. His track and field background contributes to good footwork and lateral mobility, two traits that translate effectively in pass protection and screen game situations. He also brings positional versatility, having demonstrated the ability to play both right tackle and other line spots across his college and professional stops.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Ayedze’s career are his three straight All-MEC First Team selections at Frostburg State, a rare feat that highlighted his consistency at the Division II level. His 2023 transition to Maryland and the subsequent undrafted free agent signing with the Philadelphia Eagles in May 2024 marked his official entry into the National Football League. Being selected fourth overall in the 2024 UFL Draft by the DC Defenders further underscored the respect he commanded around the league.
Gottlieb Ayedze Career Wins
As an offensive lineman, Gottlieb Ayedze’s professional resume is measured less by individual win totals and more by his contributions to team offensive production. Across his time with the Philadelphia Eagles and Las Vegas Raiders organizations, he has continued to develop within NFL practice environments while pursuing a permanent roster spot.
College Highlights
During his Frostburg State career, Ayedze helped the Bobcats produce three consecutive rushing seasons of more than 1,500 yards, including a 2,192-yard campaign in 2021 and a 2,104-yard campaign in 2022. At Maryland in 2023, his blocking supported a passing offense that led the Big Ten at 278.9 yards per game and a total offense that ranked fourth in the conference.
Other Performances
Ayedze also logged time with the DC Defenders after being selected in the 2024 UFL Draft, gaining valuable reps at the spring professional level. Those appearances added to a resume that already included extensive starting experience at both the Division II and FBS levels.
Gottlieb Ayedze Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Gottlieb Ayedze’s immediate family remains limited. What is clear is that his family relocated from the United States to Togo when he was five years old, and later returned to the United States when he was 15, a move that shaped much of his early athletic development.
Personal Life
Ayedze is known to be focused on his football career, and few additional details about his personal life have been publicly confirmed. As he continues his professional journey, he remains connected to the Germantown, Maryland community where he completed high school.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 NFL cycle, Ayedze’s status with the Las Vegas Raiders became uncertain when he was waived on August 25, leaving the offensive tackle to seek a new opportunity. His January 6, 2025 reserve and future contract had suggested he was part of the team’s long-term plans, so the late-summer roster move came as a notable development.
Ayedze’s combination of size, FBS-level starting experience, and three All-MEC selections makes him a compelling developmental prospect for offensive line groups around the league. Whether he lands back on an active roster or returns to a practice squad, his 2025 outlook will likely depend on how quickly he can adapt to the speed of professional schemes.
For now, the focus for Ayedze is securing a stable professional home and continuing to refine the technique that earned him a path from Frostburg State to Maryland to the NFL. His career arc, marked by perseverance across multiple leagues and levels, remains one of the more interesting recent stories among young offensive linemen.