Ravens football player Kene Onyeka wrapped up his fourth and final season with the team this past October while also studying engineering.
While playing for Carleton, Onyeka recorded 87 tackles, 65 assisted tackles, and achieved 77 yards in 24 games as a Raven.
At the conclusion of the 2017-18 season, the defensive end was awarded the J.P. Metras Trophy as the Ontario University Athletics lineman of the year as well as being named to the U Sports All-Canadian team.
Onyeka is currently ranked eighth on the Canadian Football League’s 2017 scouting list of the top 20 prospects.
He spoke to The Charlatan about his time at Carleton and his thoughts leading up to the CFL draft in spring 2018.
The Charlatan (TC): How did you get started playing football?
Kene Onyeka (KO): My cousin is in the CFL and my brother and my cousins are in [U Sports] and we all used to play in the backyard when I was around Grade 6, Grade 7, when I first moved to Canada. And I just fell in love with the game.
TC: What has been your favourite moment as a Raven over the course of your career?
KO: I definitely gotta say the very first Panda. The win, the catch, like, everything. Cause coming in first year, you know, like I’ve never played in front of an audience that big, it’s a big game, we’re losing, and just to come from behind and win like that was pretty special for sure.
TC: Are there any achievements you’re proud of from your time as a Raven?
KO: Well, winning the lineman of the year this year was pretty special. It was the first major award a Carleton player has ever won, so yeah, definitely can’t complain.
TC: You’re expected to go high in the CFL draft, what are your thoughts on that?
KO: I mean like, it’d be pretty great if I could. I mean it’s a really big honour and not everyone gets to go high in the CFL draft so understanding the opportunity that I have, I don’t want to mess it up. So I’m going to work as hard as I can to make sure I can do as well as I possibly can.
TC: How do you hope to continue on your success here at Carleton into the CFL?
KO: I mean, it’s all about steps, right? So, you got to take baby steps. I don’t expect to go into the league and be a monster—that’s not realistic. So of course I’ve got to go in, got to adjust to the speed, the pace of the league, got to train even harder and I got to work my way up like everybody else has and hopefully things work out.
TC: Do you have any advice you would give to new players joining the team?
KO: Come in ready to work, know your strengths and understand your weaknesses. Play to your strengths but learn how to minimize your weaknesses. You know how you play, everyone plays a little bit differently, right? Not everyone fits the stereotype of the mold, but just find a way for you to be effective at what you do.
Photo by Meagan Casalino
