Recently, I had the opportunity to talk with Chibueze Onwuka from Boston College about his college career, how he got to this spot in life, and his plans. It was a pleasure, and when his football days are over, he might want to follow in the footsteps of some other guys I spoke with and consider broadcasting.

51Counting: What are your official measurements (height/weight/Max bench)?

Chibueze Onwuka: I am 5-11 3/4; I could get away with saying six foot, but I like reminding myself I’m a little under six as motivation. It keeps a chip on my shoulder. I weigh 290 right now, and my max bench is 450.

51C: Your college athlete career started in wrestling for Niagara County C.C. before moving on the gridiron. How did you come about walking on at the University of Buffalo for football?

CO: I wrestled in high school and only played football my senior year. My school was about 4,000 kids, so we were 4A. I went to Niagara County for a semester to wrestle before transferring to the University of Buffalo, where I played three years after walking on.

51C: After playing for three years at the University of Buffalo, how did you finish up the past few seasons at Boston College?

CO: There was a coaching change with Coach Leopold moving to Kansas, and I explored the transfer portal where Boston College showed the most interest, and it turned out to be an ideal setup for me.

51C: What’s better, blocking an extra point (vs.Louisville 2022), a safety (2019 at Buffalo against Eastern Michigan), or a quarterback sack?

CO:     Hmm, well, they all are a lot of fun, but I’d say the safety as it’s putting points on the board for the team, something a defensive lineman doesn’t always get to do.  

51C: What sports did you play in high school?

CO: I wrestled from my sophomore year but played football my senior year.

51C: How hard was missing all of 2021 due to an Achilles injury in fall camp?

CO: It was pretty hard. We had a lot of guys coming back, and after living through the Covid year, 2021 was looking to be a great year.   

51C: Best advice you ever received?

CO: Football-wise, the best advice I ever received was to take the thinking out of football and trust I know my responsibilities on the field and what I need to do.

51C: What’s one thing NFL teams should know about you?

CO:  Coming from immigrant parents (we moved from Nigeria in 2006), I am not afraid of hard work. I’m coachable and handle all criticism the right way.

51C: If a scout asked you for your best game, what game film would you give him?

CO:  I would go with the Louisville game this year on October 1st. Chasing Malik Cunnigham around all day was an experience.

51C: Who was your role model/hero growing up?

CO: Without a doubt, my parents. They have been terrific examples for my siblings and me.

51C: If you could have dinner with any three people in the world, who would it be?

CO: Morgan Freeman, Jim Harbaugh, and Nelson Mandela

51C: What is your favorite go-to snack food?

CO: I like chocolate, so that I would say Twix, but I am also a big fan of Kettle Corn.

51C: You are in the process of getting a master’s degree in cybersecurity, so it’s safe to assume you are a tech guy. What’s the ultimate job in that field you would love to have?

CO: You could land jobs in the legal world or corporate America, and I would rather have a corporate job than something in the high-pressure legal side of things.

51C: Who is a player to keep an eye on from Boston College next season?

CO: Two guys that come to mind are Kwan Williams and Donovan Ezeiruaku. Both will continue growing and helping Boston College over the next few years. 

You can follow Chibueze Onwuka. on twitter at @Kingboozey