Omar Hicks Onu

Defensive Back / Montana  

Christopher Reiss: What are your measurements? (Weight and Height)

Omar Hicks Onu: 6’1, 197lbs

Christopher Reiss: During COVID-19, what have you been doing this offseason to prepare for the upcoming season?

Omar Hicks Onu: I was training in Dallas, Texas a bunch. I was working out in a facility called American Indoor. A lot of professional athletes train there. But I have been training there for months. I have my own speed, strength, and footwork trainer. I wanted to use my resources that I have to stay ahead of the game.

Christopher Reiss: When breaking down your film, what should stand out?

Omar Hicks Onu: When you watch my film, you are going to see that I play fast and physical football. You will also notice that I have a motor to last all four quarters. When you watch my film, you will never see me slow down. I will always go a 100% to the whistle.

Christopher Reiss: Coming out of high school, what schools showed interest in you?

Omar Hicks Onu: My junior year of high school, I started to get some hand written letters from schools. But my senior year, I had to sit out for five games due to injury and most of those offers went away. Oregon State was one of the last offers on the table. I quickly committed and I will always be grateful to OSU for giving me that opportunity. I also had a bunch of small JUCO schools that showed interest in me as well.

Christopher Reiss: In high school, what other positions did you play besides defensive back?

Omar Hicks Onu: I played wide receiver and was the kick returner as well.

Christopher Reiss: In high school, what other sports did you play besides football?

Omar Hicks Onu: In high school, I power lifted and ran track. The events that I ran were the 4×100 and the 4×200.

Christopher Reiss: What are the expectations for Montana this upcoming season?

Omar Hicks Onu: I think we are going to be really good this season. I personally think that we could take it all the way. I do not want to say much, but I am really excited to see what this team does this year.

Christopher Reiss: Is there anyone at Montana University that we should keep our eye out for this season?

Omar Hicks Onu: CB (TraJon) Cotton, WR Samori (Toure) and WR Sammy (Akem).  

Christopher Reiss: Why did you transfer from Oregon State to Montana?

Omar Hicks Onu: I was going to transfer before the season started, but my coach kind of talked me out of it. I did not want to go on the field, but I also wanted to show everyone that I am still a premium player. At Oregon State, I just was not happy anymore. You know when you have a gut feeling when something is not meant to be, I started to feel that. I was able to transfer to Montana and the love of football is now back. I love going to the gym and the field with the boys and working to reach my main goal.

Christopher Reiss: How would you describe your overall career?

Omar Hicks Onu: At Oregon State, we did not go to any bowl games. It was hard to get my name out there at Oregon State. If I prepared my body more when I was a little bit younger, I could have done bigger and better things. I do not like to think negative, so I just want to say that I have one more year to show everyone what I got, and hopefully Montana can make it deep into the playoffs.

Christopher Reiss: What is the highlight of your college football career?

Omar Hicks Onu: The highlight of my career was my sophomore year. Oregon State was playing against Stanford. I know we lost that game by like three points, but it was such an amazing game to play. The entire defense was shutting down the Stanford offense, I actually had an interception in that game. But the best part of that game was the game was nationally televised. My friends and family back home were able to watch me play. It was an amazing experience.

Christopher Reiss: What are some strengths of your game?

Omar Hicks Onu: I have a lot of strengths to my game, but I will name off the most important ones. My speed, my football IQ, and my awareness. The last one is not really a skill, but something I have always done naturally is ask questions. I always ask my coaches questions to make sure I am not the reason why the offense scored. I want to make sure that I know what I am doing on every single play.

Christopher Reiss: What are some assets of your game that you are trying to improve on?

Omar Hicks Onu: When I played at Oregon State, I mainly played safety. I was never really taught the proper technique at cornerback. I am working on the proper technique at cornerback right now like press coverage, bump and run, the hand fighting and all of that. Once I am able to perfect that, I will know how to play all of the secondary positions.

Christopher Reiss: What do you enjoy most about football?

Omar Hicks Onu: I have been playing since I was five years old. All I knew growing up was going to school and then going to football practice. Football is my life. Football has been a huge part of my family lives as well. I have other family members that currently play football or have played football in the past. I also enjoy the friendships and brotherhood that you also make from playing football. I would have never made some of my close friends if it was not for football.

Christopher Reiss: What are you majoring in?

Omar Hicks Onu: I already graduated. I majored in digital communication arts. I have a masters in anthropology.

Christopher Reiss: What does life after football look like for you?

Omar Hicks Onu: Making it to NFL is the end goal. But if that for some reason does not work out. I want to do something in business. I am a business minded guy. I would really like to own my own business one day or become a salesman if I have the opportunity to.

Christopher Reiss: What or who motivates you?

Omar Hicks Onu: One of my best friends passed away, and I want to do great things for him. Also my family, I want them to look up to me and say you can really do anything that you put your mind to. I want to be a role model for my family, when I am able to make it a big one day. They know that they will be able to do anything that they set their mind to.

Christopher Reiss: Is there a player in the NFL that you look up to?

Omar Hicks Onu: Jamal Adams. He is the coldest in the game right now. Eddie Jackson because he came back from the injury and he just balled out. Quandre Diggs, he is not the biggest player on the field, but he plays like he is. Darius “Big Play” Slay and Stephon Gilmore because they are just the best cornerbacks in the game. I like to learn from all of these players.

Christopher Reiss: What is your favorite NFL team?

Omar Hicks Onu: The Arizona Cardinals because I am from Arizona. I also like the Dallas Cowboys because I lived there for a while and I was able to meet Dak and Zeke too.