The Legacy of Naazir Yamini
Several names come to mind when you think of the Troy State defense at the turn of the millennium—Demarcus Ware, Osi Umenyiora, Al Lucas, Anthony Rabb—but one name that deserves to be mentioned in the same breath is Naazir Yamini.
Yamini was the Trojans’ starting middle linebacker from 2000-2002, leading the team in tackles and earning multiple top-10 spots in Troy’s record books—spots he still owns.
Yamini grew up in Decatur, Georgia, and started his career at Lakeside High School in Atlanta. His junior year, the Vikings made the state championship game, but fell short of the title.
He graduated in 1998, signed with Troy and quickly proved to be a leader.
Yamini didn’t start his freshman year, but he saw the field in 11 of the Trojans’ 12 games. That year, Anthony Rabb won Southland Defensive Player of the Year, Al Lucas won the Buck Buchanan Award, Troy State won the conference and Larry Blakeney took home coach of the year.
Both of those players graduated, opening up a spot for Yamini to lead the defense. He stepped up in a big way.
He posted double-digit tackles in eight games, including a 19-tackle game against Sam Houston State (good for #2 all-time then, #3 now) and a 16-tackle game against Northwestern State (#5, #7). That season he led the Trojans with 129 tackles, the most any Trojan has had since (Carlton Martial had 126 in 2019, the closest anyone has come.) Only eight other Trojans have made more tackles in a season.
Yamini also set a career high in tackles for loss (13), sacks (7), forced fumbles (3) and quarterback hits (19).
Troy State won the conference again, Coach Blakeney took home Coach of the Year again, and the Trojans made the playoffs. Yamini’s effort only landed him an all-conference honorable mention.
Yamini’s junior season saw a step back statistically, but only by a little. That’s surprising, given Troy’s jump to Division I and its increased level of competition—for one, Troy played both No. 1 Miami and No. 4 Nebraska, the Rose Bowl teams that season.
He still picked up more than 100 tackles, but Corey Sears picked up 6 more to lead the team. Yamini also tied his career high for quarterback hurries.
The 2002 season—Yamini’s senior year—saw more change but a return to form. Defensive line coach Tracy Rocker left for Cincinnati and the team dropped to 4-8.
Yamini held his own on defense though. He topped his freshman year by one, picking up 72 total tackles. In the Mississippi State game, he recorded 18 tackles alone. That was the third-most in a single game at the time (It’s now No. 4.)
That season he again led the team with 118 total tackles, the last Trojan to record 100+ tackles in three straight seasons (Martial has had two straight seasons as of this article.)
That brings his total to 371 tackles across his college career. He’s ranked No. 4 all-time among all Trojans in total and solo tackles. He’s ranked No. 13 all-time in assisted tackles.
After he graduated in 2003, Yamini stuck around to get his MBA, serving as a grad assistant in 2004. After that Yamini moved to Atlanta, got married and traded in his cleats for a business suit. He followed up his success on the football field with a professional career that rivaled it.
Sadly, Naazir Yamini passed away in September 2019. He was laid to rest in Sandy Springs, Georgia, where he and his wife Brooke lived. Even now, our hearts go out to his family.
Naazir Yamini earned his place in the record books, and his legacy deserves a place in Trojan lore.
