The bullying stopped when Ibrahim Sanogo stepped on the football field

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Saluki fifth-year defensive end Ibrahim Sanogo was often bullied at school when he was a kid, but that all changed once he stepped onto the football field. At that point, he became the bully.

Born in Connecticut, Sanogo spent three years of his childhood living with his grandmother in the Ivory Coast in Africa. When he returned to the States at the age of six, Sanogo admits his language skills weren’t the best.

“I got picked on for sure, because I didn't speak English too well,” he said. “All I really knew how to do was fight. I used to get in trouble at school. My mom was like, alright, you want to get in trouble, let’s put you on the football field to take your anger out.”

The Albany transfer chose SIU due to his relationship with D-Line coaches Darius Davis and Jake Kulig.

The son of immigrants, Sanogo’s father is from the Ivory Coast and his mom is from Guinea. Both of his parents are nurses who now live in Philadelphia and work with the elderly.

When he was a kid, Sanogo recalled that the household budget was often stretched.

“Growing up, we didn't have a lot, clothes-wise, food-wise, but my parents did their best to take care of the whole family,” he said.

Sanogo's large family includes four brothers, three stepsisters, and his twin sister, Jolie.

“Being a girl, she used to always get whatever she wanted, and I kind of had to get it the hard way,” he laughed. “Growing up, I see the reason why, and I'm blessed for it, so I can't complain. I love her.”

Sanogo (6-2, 252, 5th) made two college stops before arriving at Southern Illinois this summer. He played his first two seasons at Division II California (Pa.), where he recorded 59 tackles and 14.0 sacks. He then transferred to FCS Albany for two seasons (2024-25), where he played 16 games, recorded 47 tackles, including 8.5 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks. Do the math and you come up with an impressive 18.0 sacks in 38 college games.

Ibrahim has a twin sister, Jolie.

In 2025, however, Sanogo hurt his shoulder in Week 4 and missed the rest of the season. He was a late signee for SIU and didn’t participate in spring ball because he was finishing his undergraduate degree at Albany in criminal justice. Multiple FBS and FCS schools offered him.

“I chose SIU because I wanted to play for Coach (Darius) Davis and Coach (Jake) Kulig, who originally recruited me to Albany,” he explained. “I wanted to be around people that are hungry to win, people that are going to push me. I'm gonna push everybody else.”

Sanogo said the Salukis have “the most athletic D-line room I've ever been in.”

“We have boys from inside to outside, boys who are athletic, strong, fast,” he said. “I can't have a bad practice, because I know the next guy is right here trying to take my job.”

He predicts the unit’s depth will help everyone perform at their best.

“We have a great rotation that will keep us fresh, so we can go longer into the season, into the playoffs and the championship,” Sanogo said.

Off the field, the bullying that took place in his youth is a distant memory. Sanogo, who goes by the first name, Abe, is easy-going and well-liked by his teammates. He’s working on his MBA at Southern, but hopes this isn’t his last season of playing football.

“I want to take this as far as I can,” he said. “I don't want to live with any regrets. I'm going to be successful, because I got the dawg in me, and I'm going to always work for it.”

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More about the Saluki Defensive Ends

SIU defensive ends coach Jake Kulig feels he has “four or five guys that could all be starters in this league,” including Sanogo, who he described as “a leader in our room who has elevated the competition.”

Returning starter Jake Parrella (6-2, 255, 5th) led the team with three forced fumbles in 2025, while playing the majority of the season with a cast on his left hand. After the cast came off, he recorded 2.0 sacks in the win at Illinois State.

“There's not many defensive ends that I've coached who can set an edge as well as he does,” Kulig said. “He’s one of our best power rushers on the team, and he has a real smart mind for the game of football.”

The Salukis are hoping for a breakout year from Lukus McDaniels (6-6, 248, Jr.), who had three QB hurries in a part-time role as a redshirt freshman last year.

“Lukus is athletic as all get out,” Kulig said. “He has the size and the tools. He’s getting a lot better against the run taking on blocks, getting off of blocks. We think he's going to have a really big year.”

Camron Miller (6-3, 250, 5th) flashed big-play ability last season, including a 1.5 tackle-for-loss effort at Purdue, and carried it over into a solid spring ball campaign.

“Cam is kind of a combination of Jake and Lukus,” Kulig said. “He’s physical, athletic, real strong, and a guy that we're counting on to play a lot this year.”

Entering just his second year of college football, Division II Findlay transfer Sam Farmer (6-4, 225, So.) has used training camp to play his way into the rotation.

“This is his first true year of playing with his hand in the dirt, but he has all the tools and the intangibles to be a very good player,” Kulig said. “He’s developed a lot quicker than I think we anticipated when we first got him here.”

Southwest Baptist transfer Caleb Saner (6-2, 240, Sr.) was a Division II honorable mention All-American last year and recorded 13.0 sacks in two seasons.

“Caleb just goes out there and plays with his hair on fire,” Kulig said. “He was very productive at the DII level, and for his size, does a really good job holding his own in the run game.”

Brennan King (6-2, 235, So.) did not see action in 2025, but was a three-star edge rusher in high school who recorded 22.5 sacks at Cardinal Newman in West Palm Beach, Florida.

“He’s taken a big leap from where he was in the spring to what he's done in the fall,” Kulig said. “He’s improved in his pass rush and he’s more productive in the run game. I’m really excited to see how he develops in the next two to three years.”

The newest addition to the room is Bentley Neier (6-5, 235, Fr.) from Springfield, Missouri.

“Bentley being a true freshman, he’s developing his body in the weight room with Coach Meade (Smith),” Kulig said. “He’s shown some things in practice that he could he could be a good player in the future.”

Other potential defensive ends include Ohio Dominican transfer Quinten Wagers (6-5, 215, Jr.) and a pair of defensive tackles who could occasionally swing outside in Nate Tronzo (6-4, 247, Jr.) and Jonah Were (6-3, 230, Fr.).