Joshua Onujiogu – Defensive End – Framingham State

Alex Khvatov:  What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?

Joshua Onujiogu:  I weighed in at 254 pounds, height is 6’2 ½, arm length is 31 inches, and hand size is 9 ½.  My junior pro day is this upcoming Thursday, and I will run an official 40 time there.

Alex Khvatov:  What is your training regimen like right now? 

Joshua Onujiogu:  I train every day.  I am staying prepared.  Speed training and strength training Monday through Friday.  I am training at Seaside CrossFit in Wareham, Massachusetts.  I have been training there since my sophomore year of high school. 

Alex Khvatov:  What positions did you play in high school? 

Joshua Onujiogu:  I came from a small high school.  We had 22 kids on my varsity football squad.  I played all positions.  I played DE, OLB, safety, RB, and QB.  My main positions were OLB and DE. 

Alex Khvatov:  Did you play any other sports in high school? 

Joshua Onujiogu:  I played basketball freshman to junior year.  I ran track junior and senior year.  I ran 100m hurdles.        

Alex Khvatov:  Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?

Joshua Onujiogu:  I started all four years at a small high school.  Getting exposure was a problem.  I didn’t go to any camps.  I waited for the luck of the draw. 

Alex Khvatov:  Why did you choose Framingham State? 

Joshua Onujiogu:  Framingham State was my only offer.  They reached out to me, and we went from there.

Alex Khvatov:  Tell us about Framingham State.

Joshua Onujiogu:  It is a small D-III school.  It is a liberal arts school.  We have a small community here.  They have won a lot of football games.  It is a good football program. 

Alex Khvatov:  Describe your overall career. 

Joshua Onujiogu:  I started as a freshman.  I came in as a late recruit.  I started all 11 games as a true freshman.  I stayed at DE all four years.  I had 40 tackles and two sacks my freshman year.  During my sophomore year, I started winning awards.  I had 64 tackles, 11.5 sacks, and 18.5 TFL’s.  I set a sack record at the school.  I got all-New England.  I was a first team all-conference.  Junior year, I redshirted.  I tweaked my shoulder in camp, then I tweaked it again during the first game.  The third game of that season, I broke my hand.  I took a medical redshirt year.  I have been a captain since my sophomore year.  Redshirt junior year, we had a new defensive coordinator.  I became a preseason All-American and I was the defensive player of the year.  I was a first team all-conference.  I had 54 tackles and 8.5 sacks.  Teams would game plan for me, and I still won defensive player of the year.  Last year, we played against Wesley in the first round of the playoffs.   

Alex Khvatov:  What can we expect from your team this upcoming season? 

Joshua Onujiogu:  We have a new coaching staff again.  Our head coach retired, and our OC is our new head coach.  He has been here.  Our defensive coordinator left.  Don’t see much changing.  Everyone is returning.  I don’t see us losing a lot of games.        

Alex Khvatov:  What are your strengths?

Joshua Onujiogu:  Coaches tell me I have a high motor.  I can go forever.  My ball awareness.  I am always near the ball.  I am very fast and I have a great get off.  I am a team player.  I have been a captain since my sophomore year. 

Alex Khvatov:  What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?

Joshua Onujiogu:  I was playing at 230 pounds.  The weakness for me was my weight.  With Covid season and basically this is being another redshirt year, I gained weight.  I gained about 20 pounds.  I am a well-rounded player.   

Alex Khvatov:  What is the highlight of your career up to this point?

Joshua Onujiogu:  Breaking the sack record my sophomore year.  I hold the all-time sack record at the school.  I am five TFL’s from the all-time school record in TFL’s.  I should break that record this upcoming fall.   

Alex Khvatov:  What is the biggest lesson that you have taken away from your coaching staff? 

Joshua Onujiogu:  The biggest lesson is the small details count in a game of football.  You need to bring energy to practice every day.  You need to be well-rounded in everything. 

Alex Khvatov:  What is your favorite NFL team? 

Joshua Onujiogu:  I am from Massachusetts.  The New England Patriots.     

Alex Khvatov:  Who is your favorite NFL player?

Joshua Onujiogu:  My two favorite players are Darius Leonard of the Colts and Khalil Mack of the Bears.  I love Leonard because he is always in pursuit of the ball.  He can get a sack or drop back into coverage.  He has a high motor and high awareness.  Khalil Mack is a big, compacted DE.  He is 250 pounds.  He can control the big OL.  He has a high motor and can get the sack in the third or fourth quarter.     

Alex Khvatov:  What players on your team should we keep an eye on for this upcoming season?

Joshua Onujiogu:  DE Joshua Smiley.  He came from UMass-Amherst.  He is a big guy with a high motor.  He is good with his hands and brings great energy to the team.  LB/S Cully Curran is our commander of the defense.  He knows where and what we are supposed to do on every play.  He is a great asset to our defense.  

Alex Khvatov:  What is the most important trait for a DL?

Joshua Onujiogu:  Violent hands.

Alex Khvatov:  Who was the toughest OL that you have faced during your career?

Joshua Onujiogu:  There is a team in upper state New York, SUNY Brockport.  They had a big OL.  They were a well-rounded group.   

Alex Khvatov:  What do you enjoy most about football?

Joshua Onujiogu:  I have built a strong bond with this game.  I was five years old when I started playing.  I love showing my talents and athletic ability.  I feel comfortable that I could do anything I want on the field.   

Alex Khvatov:  What are your hobbies?

Joshua Onujiogu:  I have five siblings.  I live with my mother.  I spend a lot of time with my family.  I go to the gym every day.  I have a good bond with my strength and conditioning coach.  I am a home body.

Alex Khvatov:  What makes you unique?

Joshua Onujiogu:  My agility.  At 6’2, 250 pounds, I move like a DB.  My dad pushed footwork instead of weights.  I was hitting the ladder and jump roping every day.  My footwork separates me.

Alex Khvatov:  What are your plans after your football career?

Joshua Onujiogu:  I would hope to be in real estate when I am done with football.  I also want to become a firefighter or maybe coaching sports.   

Alex Khvatov:  What five words best describe you?

Joshua Onujiogu:  Fast, agile, violent, mentally strong, and quick.