He played college football for the Villanova Wildcats and was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft.

[1] A native of New Brunswick, New Jersey, Ijalana attended Willingboro High School in his freshman and sophomore year, before moving to Hainesport Township and transferring to Rancocas Valley Regional High School, where he was a two-way lineman, and district champion in wrestling.

[4] Ijalana was named to the 2010 Outland Trophy watch list as the only Football Championship Subdivision player.

[8] Ijalana played four games in his rookie season before tearing his ACL and landing on injured reserve.

[13][14] On February 19, 2018, the Jets declined the second-year option on Ijalana's contract, making him a free agent.