Q&A: Cretin's James Onwualu Talks Gophers, Jerry Kill and His Upcoming Visit to the U

[GopherHole Staff]

Q&A: Cretin's James Onwualu Talks Gophers, Jerry Kill and His Upcoming Visit to the U

Cretin's James Onwualu Talks Gophers, Jerry Kill and His Upcoming Visit to the U
By Chris Monter

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/134816?referrer_id=331171

James Onwualu, a 6-1, 185-pound wide receiver from Cretin Derham Hall, is the state’s mostly highly recruited player from the Class of 2013. Onwualu sat down with GopherHole.com this past weekend to talk about the Gophers and the latest news on his recruitment.

Onwualu accumulated 1,092 yards and 17 touchdowns this past season as a wide receiver and running back for the Raiders. He helped lead the team to an 11-1 mark, losing to Wayzata 42-0 in the Class 5A state semifinals.

Onwualu was a standout at the Under Armour All American combine in Orlando and the Army All American combine in San Antonio.

GopherHole: What is the latest on your recruitment? I know that you have picked up several offers so far.

James Onwualu: Definitely. It has been exciting. Everything has been coming in pretty fast. I have been trying to take the visits that I can and talk to the coaches that I can.

GopherHole: How many offers are you up to right now?

James Onwualu: I think that it is eight or nine. Minnesota, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Iowa, Michigan State, Michigan, Stanford and Purdue. I just got Arizona yesterday. That is my newest one.

GopherHole: Have you had a chance to go to any Junior Days or any plans to go to any in the next couple of weeks?

James Onwualu: I stopped down at Iowa a couple of weekends ago with my mom for their Junior Day. I was just down at Stanford this weekend. I had a good visit there and I believe that Minnesota’s is next weekend, so I am excited to go over there.

GopherHole: Have you thought much about what camps you are going to try to go to this summer?

James Onwualu: You know what, I am thinking about committing early, so I think that by then I am really going to have what I want and be done.

GopherHole: What is the main thing that is going to make pick School A over School B and C?

James Onwualu: Obviously, the level of football is important to me, but also academics. I have taken it seriously throughout high school and I plan on doing the same in college and also the atmosphere.

GopherHole: Have you thought much about what you are going to try to major in at college?

James Onwualu: As of now, I think that I am going to follow after my brother and go into business, but I’m not sure. That could change at any time.

GopherHole: I know that you are a good student. What is your GPA?

James Onwualu: Right now, it is 4.2.

GopherHole: Have you taken the ACT yet?

James Onwualu: I just took the ACT last weekend, so I don’t know what I got yet.

GopherHole: What are you hearing from the Gophers?

James Onwualu: They are excited about me. I have gotten to sit down with them a little bit. They are recruiting me pretty hard and they really want me to come in and help them turn around their program.

GopherHole: Does the fact that they signed a lot of the top players from Minnesota in Coach Kill’s first full recruiting year show that they are trying to get the top local kids?

James Onwualu: Definitely. I think in the past years, they haven’t really focused on Minnesota as much. I think that it is important to keep our best players in-state and that is one of the things that really helps them out. It is great to keep kids that have grown up together, playing together.

GopherHole: Did you get a chance to go to many college football games this past season?

James Onwualu: I went to one of their games since they are right in the back yard. I also went over to Wisconsin and also saw a Notre Dame and Iowa game.

GopherHole: Did you have a favorite team growing up?

James Onwualu: Not really. I just like watching college ball. I’ve always been a fan of college ball. I just like the intensity and just the focus that a lot of college players have.

GopherHole: I got a chance to see your games versus Lakeville North and Wayzata and you played both wide receiver and running back. Have you talked to the college coaches about what position you will play in college?

James Onwualu: Right now, I have all my offers as a receiver, but that could really change. I’ve been talking to Alabama, who I could potentially be playing safety for. Michigan, I have my offer for as a wide receiver, but I have been talking to Coach (Greg) Mattison from Michigan and even though they have offered me as a receiver, I could be playing safety over there.

GopherHole: Are you just going to be playing offense for Cretin or would you play both sides of the field?

James Onwualu: I think that I am going to be all over like last year. I played a little bit of corner, depending on the receiver, but I could be playing safety and I think that I’ll be all over again.

GopherHole: Last year, you played both wide receiver and running back. Do you like being that versatile player who can play more than one position?

James Onwualu: Yes, definitely. I think that it helps out with the offense a lot. This year, we are going to have Blake Banham (younger brother of Gopher women’s basketball standout Rachel and Gopher football running back Cole), who is going to be a great running back. I know the Banham’s on the U of M system, but he is going to be a great running back for us this year, so that may keep me at receiver or we might be doing two backs in the backfield, so I am pretty excited about it.

 

[Go4]

it sure would be great to get the top cretin kid for once! what are our chances?

 

[wels0081]

Everything I've heard about this kid is that we have no shot.

But this statement for whatever reason makes me think is at least considering being a Gopher:

James Onwualu: Definitely. I think in the past years, they haven’t really focused on Minnesota as much. I think that it is important to keep our best players in-state and that is one of the things that really helps them out. It is great to keep kids that have grown up together, playing together.

The fact that he said keep "our" best players in state makes me believe he considers himself a Minnesotan and part of the cause.

(Yes, I realize he's a 17 year old kid and I'm reading a ton into one response)

 

[Gopher Gold]

it sure would be great to get the top cretin kid for once! what are our chances?

From what I've read, not great. But this is the most I've ever heard him talk about the U and he had some good things to say. I wouldn't be shocked if he ended up here but I think it'll more likely be a helmet school he chooses.

Wait for Bob_Loblaw's input on James, but i'd love to see him in Maroon and Gold.

 

[BleedGopher]

Go Gophers!!

 

[dpodoll68]

We don't want him anyway. He's no good. It's all CDH hype. All kinds of no-talent prospects get 9 BCS offers before spring break of their junior year.

 

[Nate]

He needs to work on his spin move.

 

[gophergrad]

DON'T COMMIT TO ALABAMA UNTIL THEY SEND YOU 106 LETTERS IN A SINGLE DAY!!!!!

But in all seriousness, it would be pretty great if he came here. He's always been positive about the Gophers and if he's deciding early that might be another factor in our favor. It's all about cautious optimism, you guys.

 

[dlw4gophers]

If he is interested in business and takes his academics serious, then we should have a shot. Carlson School is a great selling point.

 

[4four4]

He is not any good unless he receives an offer from Western Michigan.

 

[Monty519]

He is not any good unless he receives an offer from Western Michigan.

Haha, no doubt. I know I don't want any players WMU doesn't want.

 

[John Galt]

We don't want him anyway. He's no good. It's all CDH hype. All kinds of no-talent prospects get 9 BCS offers before spring break of their junior year.

Have you been to a CDH game in the last 2 years? No one has made the statement we don't want him, it's just that you would expect a player at a skill position to stand out more than he has given the recruiting interest he's received. As has already been hashed out, much of his interest is based on his measurables.

 

[dpodoll68]

No one has made the statement we don't want him

Not explicitly, no. Certain posters are very skilled at rarely making declarative statements so that it is difficult to call them out on their idiotic, terrible takes.

 

[John Galt]

Not explicitly, no. Certain posters are very skilled at rarely making declarative statements so that it is difficult to call them out on their idiotic, terrible takes.

Kind of like how you avoided my question if you had been to a CDH game in the last 2 years and seen Onwualu play in person? If you haven't, you can go away since you have nothing to contribute to the conversation.

 

[dpodoll68]

Kind of like how you avoided my question if you had been to a CDH game in the last 2 years and seen Onwualu play in person? If you haven't, you can go away since you have nothing to contribute to the conversation.

I didn't avoid anything. No, I haven't been to a CDH game, ever. I don't follow or care about HS sports outside of the players the Gophers are interested in. So that means I have nothing to contribute to the conversation? OK, boss. Thanks anyway, but I don't need to have seen him play in person to have an opinion on it. It's pretty much an idiotic take that a guy with 9 BCS offers in February of his junior year is all hype, no matter how you arrived at that conclusion. Whether it's based on production or measurables, it's not hype, just as it wasn't for Henderson, Floyd, Royston, Carufel, Mauer, Harris, Archer, Freeman, etc. I'll take the opinion of 9 multimillionaire coaches over the opinion of any idiot message board poster any day. Nonetheless, thank you for the condescension.

 

[John Galt]

I Thanks anyway, but I don't need to have seen him play in person to have an opinion on it. QUOTE]

The initial point raised was whether his on-field production and what you see out of him in games would warrant 9 BCS offers in February of his junior year. It's impossible to have an intelligent position on this unless you've seen him play.

And thanks for the drivel on the other CDH players that weren't even part of the conversation. It's seems like you're making a vague attempt to paint me as a CDH hater since I posted a comment on a message board that didn't state JO was one of the best players I've ever seen, which I thought you just criticized people for in your earlier post.

 

[To Be Named Later]

I didn't avoid anything. No, I haven't been to a CDH game, ever. I don't follow or care about HS sports outside of the players the Gophers are interested in. So that means I have nothing to contribute to the conversation? OK, boss. Thanks anyway, but I don't need to have seen him play in person to have an opinion on it. It's pretty much an idiotic take that a guy with 9 BCS offers in February of his junior year is all hype, no matter how you arrived at that conclusion. Whether it's based on production or measurables, it's not hype, just as it wasn't for Henderson, Floyd, Royston, Carufel, Mauer, Harris, Archer, Freeman, etc. I'll take the opinion of 9 multimillionaire coaches over the opinion of any idiot message board poster any day. Nonetheless, thank you for the condescension.

No need to trust those other coaches. When can we expect Kill to forward us the film so we can give him the seal of approval on an offer? Mine hasn't shown up yet.

 

[dpodoll68]

The initial point raised was whether his on-field production and what you see out of him in games would warrant 9 BCS offers in February of his junior year. It's impossible to have an intelligent position on this unless you've seen him play.

I guess I'm not allowed to watch video, like the one above. I have to see him play in person, and preferably multiple times, before I know whether he's any good. Every player in every BCS conference is watched, by the head coach of that school, at least 6-7 times in person before they even offer him. It takes a superhuman schedule (not to mention the ability to time travel) in order to watch at least 75-100 HS players each play a minimum of 6 games each before you even offer them, in addition to actually practicing and coaching your squad on Saturdays, but I guess that's why these guys get paid the big bucks.

And thanks for the drivel on the other CDH players that weren't even part of the conversation. It's seems like you're making a vague attempt to paint me as a CDH hater since I posted a comment on a message board that didn't state JO was one of the best players I've ever seen, which I thought you just criticized people for in your earlier post.

I'm not even talking about you, so feel free to unwad your big girl panties now.

 

[Gopher Gold]

And a perfectly good thread goes down the crapper again...

 

[dpodoll68]

And a perfectly good thread goes down the crapper again...

All you have to do is get everyone to have perfectly consenting opinions on every topic that is raised. Sounds easy enough to do, right? And it would make for a really lively and interesting board, right?

Since you're complaining about the complaining, I suppose this is the part of my post where I should complain that people shouldn't post if they have nothing more to contribute than complaining about the complaining?

 

[John Galt]

I guess I'm not allowed to watch video, like the one above. I have to see him play in person, and preferably multiple times, before I know whether he's any good.

For the hundredth time, no one said he wasn't good. I challenge you to find a single poster on here who thinks he shouldn't get an offer. The discussion is around offer list to on-field performance, which you have never seen. As GG says above, most posters who are on here are reasonable and just want to discuss Gopher football. Your agenda is to piss people off and highjack as many threads as you can.

 

[dpodoll68]

For the hundredth time, no one said he wasn't good.

I already agreed with you in that no one has explicitly stated so. One poster who shall remain nameless but whose identity is obvious has intimated on more than one occasion that he wouldn't be getting offers if he didn't go to CDH and not only implied, but flat-out stated, that the "hype machine" is responsible for him getting offers. On what planet is that not implicitly stating that he is no good?

I challenge you to find a single poster on here who thinks he shouldn't get an offer.

See above.

The discussion is around offer list to on-field performance, which you have never seen.

I haven't? You are making some pretty big assumptions here. You are assuming either that I am blind or that YouTube doesn't work on the computer that I am using. Unfortunately for your assumptions, neither of those things are the case.

As GG says above, most posters who are on here are reasonable and just want to discuss Gopher football. Your agenda is to piss people off and highjack as many threads as you can.

How in the hell is this a thread hijack? This is a thread about James Onwualu. Please point out to me where I've discussed anything other than James Onwualu. Thanks in advance!

And for the record, I have no agenda to piss people off. My agenda is to point out idiot posters and their terrible takes.

 

[dboy]

big time players show up in big games.
9 bcs offers?...
Against a slow, Midwest defense like Wayzata, a guy like this should go fo 300+ all purpose yards...

11 rushes, 33 yards
long: 6
avg: 2.8

1 reception, 6 yards

box: http://www.mshsl.org/mshsl/upload/MSHSL2326015a-semi2.htm


i have agreed with john gault all along.. he's not that impressive in person..

 

[GoAUpher]

Popping the popcorn now. This will probably get good.

 

[920/414 Gopher]

Popping the popcorn now. This will probably get good.

Extra butter, please.

 

[Rosemountian]

I'm surprised he is getting as bug of offers as he is.
I don't think he could play defense at the next level.
I do think he could be a really good wr/third down back at the bcs level.

 

[John Galt]

I already agreed with you in that no one has explicitly stated so. One poster who shall remain nameless but whose identity is obvious has intimated on more than one occasion that he wouldn't be getting offers if he didn't go to CDH and not only implied, but flat-out stated, that the "hype machine" is responsible for him getting offers. On what planet is that not implicitly stating that he is no good?



See above.



I haven't? You are making some pretty big assumptions here. You are assuming either that I am blind or that YouTube doesn't work on the computer that I am using. Unfortunately for your assumptions, neither of those things are the case.



How in the hell is this a thread hijack? This is a thread about James Onwualu. Please point out to me where I've discussed anything other than James Onwualu. Thanks in advance!

And for the record, I have no agenda to piss people off. My agenda is to point out idiot posters and their terrible takes.

A lot of people on this board have already said they're sick of your posts and wish you'd go away, and you can add me to the list. People wanted to post on what was a pretty encouraging interview with JO where it sounds like the Gophers might have a shot with him. Instead, you hijacked the thread by mocking people from a thread posted a month earlier who have seen him play in live games that commented that his offer list seemed excessive based on what we saw. In your mind, everyone is supposed to drool over him since he has 9 offers and we can't ever question the opinions of coaches. You view yourself as the "fact policeman" on this board and "point out idiot posters and their terrible takes," yet you freely admit you've never watched him in person and criticize the takes of those who have. The hypocrisy is thick... Countdown to your multi-quote reply since you always need the last word, 3, 2, 1....

 

[zambam]

A lot of people on this board have already said they're sick of your posts and wish you'd go away, and you can add me to the list. People wanted to post on what was a pretty encouraging interview with JO where it sounds like the Gophers might have a shot with him. Instead, you hijacked the thread by mocking people from a thread posted a month earlier who have seen him play in live games that commented that his offer list seemed excessive based on what we saw. In your mind, everyone is supposed to drool over him since he has 9 offers and we can't ever question the opinions of coaches. You view yourself as the "fact policeman" on this board and "point out idiot posters and their terrible takes," yet you freely admit you've never watched him in person and criticize the takes of those who have. The hypocrisy is thick... Countdown to your multi-quote reply since you always need the last word, 3, 2, 1....

Watching a player in person isn't a requirement for having an opinion on a player.

 

[dpodoll68]

I have never stated that he is worthy of 9 BCS offers. I have never stated that he is worthy of a Gopher offer. I have never stated that he is worthy of any offers at all.

Stating that someone with 9 BCS offers in February of their junior year is the product of a "hype machine" is an idiotic statement. Period.

 

[John Galt]

Please show me where I said that?