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David Onyemata's path from Nigeria to the NFL took only 5 years
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Five years ago, Manitoba football coach Brian Dobie heard a quiet knock on the door of his office.
In walked 18-year-old David Onyemata, a 6-foot-4 giant of a teenager who weighed 330 pounds at the time and had never picked up a football in his life. "I never knew anything about it or the process, and I hadn't seen the game until I got to Canada," Onyemata said. Onyemata, an international student far away from his home of Nigeria, needed an activity. Football sounded fun. "All I did was go to school and go back home," Onyemata said. "I had so much free time that I needed to do something. I ended up trying out for the team." http://image.nola.com/home/nola-medi...48c10b2b3a.jpg Dobie said he'd give him a week's tryout. What happened over the next five years is so remarkable Dobie got emotional when he spoke to reporters on Saturday. Onyemata transformed from a football neophyte to a sought after NFL defensive lineman prospect. On Saturday, the New Orleans Saints traded up to get Onyemata in the fourth round, making him the first player from the University of Mantioba to be drafted in the NFL. "David's a great story, he's a guy you would say is a self-made guy," Payton told the NFL Network on Saturday. "I love the kid's makeup. He's one of those guys that has had to accomplish a lot to be where he is now." "Up here in Canada, we're literally calling him Cinderella," Dobie said. read more |
Re: David Onyemata's path from Nigeria to the NFL took only 5 years
Everybody has size and skills in the NFL. Brutal game and business. Saints reaching for a boom. I think Billings would have been a better pick. I hope I'm wrong.
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Re: David Onyemata's path from Nigeria to the NFL took only 5 years
Another wait and see.
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Re: David Onyemata's path from Nigeria to the NFL took only 5 years
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Re: David Onyemata's path from Nigeria to the NFL took only 5 years
If nothing else it shows that the kid has the drive to succeed.
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Re: David Onyemata's path from Nigeria to the NFL took only 5 years
I like the pick in theory. Obviously only time will tell what we've got in him but I'm certainly rooting for him. My gripe lies in the cost to make the pick. Just not a fan of constantly going into drafts with so few picks. Hope he's worth it.
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Re: David Onyemata's path from Nigeria to the NFL took only 5 years
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Re: David Onyemata's path from Nigeria to the NFL took only 5 years
The cap space on the team was so bad they probably couldn't have afforded to have so many picks. It was most likely better to give two picks away so they only had to worry about one player. They had players on there draft board they wanted and they probably got most of them.
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Re: David Onyemata's path from Nigeria to the NFL took only 5 years
Camp beast at the very least!!! :razz:
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Re: David Onyemata's path from Nigeria to the NFL took only 5 years
I want to visit Nigeria.
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