Onyenegecha Answers Fan Questions

NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma cornerback Chijioke Onyenegecha answered fan questions on Monday afternoon following practice. The junior transfer from City College of San Francisco started his first game for OU in Manhattan against Kansas State.

Onyenegecha has 13 tackles on the season including a key sack of Texas quarterback Vince Young in Oklahoma's 12-0 shutout of the Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl.

Chijioke, who do you live with and who do you room with on the road?
- Ruth from Norman, Okla.

I live with Lance Mitchell here in Norman. When we travel, normally I room with Antonio Perkins but our last away game I roomed with Darien Williams.

Would you talk about some of the younger DB's?
- Ed from Oklahoma City, Okla.

We have several guys who have a lot of potential. Darien Williams is going to be a great guy in the future. He's physical, fast and he's determined -- he works hard. Marcus Walker is another upcoming freshman. He focuses on his technique, pushes himself every day and asks a lot of questions -- he's just learning to get a lot better. Jowahn Poteat is also a great guy. He's a technician -- he's the next guy to come in. They're all ready to come off the bench and play. If any of us go down, we've got guys that can step up. I feel like everyone is doing their part -- no one is slacking.

Who has been the hardest receiver to cover in practice?
- Susan from Dallas, Texas

I'd probably say Mark Clayton because he's real shifty. Every time you go up against him, he has something new for you. Travis Wilson just goes and gets the ball. He's real physical and strong. He uses his body well. He also has great hands. When you go up against him he really pushes you to be physical going for the ball. Will Peoples is just like Mark Clayton but taller. He's got great speed. Those three are the toughest.

What is the dollar formation?
- Debbie from Claremore, Okla.

It's kind of like nickel and dime. It's just bringing in an extra secondary guy so you can cover more pass formations.

What do you think your best game has been so far?
- Chuck from Norman, Okla.

Every game I got reps so I just kept on progressing. First time I got a lot of playing time was against Texas. We really prepped well that week. I was getting a lot of reps in practice and I was focusing in on getting ready. They put me in and it was my time. Kansas State was my first full start. I felt like I played pretty solid. The more reps you get, the better you get. I'm real comfortable playing right now.

On that sack against Texas, it was a double corner blitz and Perkins actually got to him first. He jumped up and got his hands up -- almost deflecting a pass. It caused Vince to hesitate and he pump faked and I got him on the backside. Perkins really set me up for that one.

What was the Texas game like for you?
- Scott from Houston, Texas

Everything's been new for me. It was a great experience. This whole Division 1 thing is new to me. We don't take many road trips in JC -- everyone's real close. The crowd was amazing. I've never played in front of a crowd like that. It was overwhelming. Every play was a big play. I'm just getting used to it all.

How much do you know about the Bedlam Game?
- Chadly from Tulsa, Okla.

Our coaches are focusing on prepping us and practicing us hard. We're focused in the film room and watching extra film to get prepared because we know they're a great team. They have a great running game so we have to find a way to shut that down.

If you were a receiver on our team, which DB would you least like to go up against?
- Gary from Owasso, Okla.

Oh, I wouldn't want to go up against Perkins. We know each other pretty well. He's got great speed and anticipation. He's physical and fast. I'd probably want to go against the younger guys and beat them up a little bit (laughs). We play a lot of zone so you have Brodney Pool and Donte Nicholson coming up over the top all day.

Was it hard to switch from man coverage to mostly zone?
- Matt from Oklahoma City, Okla.

Yes, it's an adjustment. It's playing the way they want you to play and line up. My coach back in JC -- I had about five different man techniques I used. Off-man, bump and run, press and go and cover-read. I'd just keep on changing my man techniques during the game. I'd be coached up on the sideline and that's all I did. Here, you just have a lot of new stuff. Every game you use a different type of technique, a different type of zone. Every week is something new. At my old place, we just had a lot of man technique and you'd get comfortable with that and just play football.

What is Lance Mitchell like as a defensive captain -- plus you live with him..
- John from Edmond, Okla.

He's basically the quarterback of our defense. He's our main leader. He calls the shots. He's our motivator in the huddle, he gets everyone amped up and focused. He's just got a strong presence. When he says something, we just go do it.

What was it like watching him scoop up that fumble and run it in for a touchdown?

He was a great running back in high school. I've seen his highlight tape from high school. It was pretty good. He had like 1,500-1,600 yard seasons both his junior and senior years. He was highly recruited as a running back. He was probably a little smaller then, maybe 220. But you could see he was real shifty and strong. Just watching him run with the ball on Saturday reminded me of him in high school. He's just a great athlete.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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