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People SearchFind an individual who either played a sport or was a member of a support group. Search by last name by clicking on the first letter of the person's last name.
Mr. Emeka "Meka Baby" Onyenekwu
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Home Phone: -- Football: Onyenekwu builds a solid resume Bruce Brown • bbrown@theadvertiser.com • October 22, 2010 Sophomore defensive end Emeka Onyenekwu is gradually building a resume with Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns, but that’s a relatively simple process compared to rebuilding his life. Onyenekwu’s family fled New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, then settled in Baton Rouge to pick up the pieces. “It was crazy,” Onyenekwu said. “I didn’t believe it at first, until I went back to our home in New Orleans. I got up to the second floor and could see the sky. That’s when I knew we weren’t going back. All I had taken with me was a toothbrush and my PlayStation.” Onyenekwu was planning to play football for McMain High in New Orleans, but instead had to find a place for his talents at McKinley. The onetime tight end eventually emerged as a force at defensive end in 2007, making 44 tackles (15 for loss), recording 12.5 sacks and recovering two fumbles as a senior. “Athletics definitely helps you concentrate on something positive, and being productive,” Onyenekwu said. “You don’t think about what’s going on as much (outside of school). A lot of players from New Orleans ended up at McKinley, and the coach worked well to get us into the system. “After my junior year, my coach told me I could be a prospect if I kept working at it. So, that spring, I decided to ball out as best as I could. It was great motivation.” Still, the 6-foot-5 Onyenekwu lacked ideal size for college football, packing just 205 pounds on his lanky frame. So once again he set to work, and is now at 237. “We have a great strength and conditioning program here,” he said. “I learned what to eat, and how to approach a workout regimen. I wanted to play as soon as possible, so I stuck with it. I wanted to at least put on some size.” Onyenekwu was redshirted as a freshman in 2008, then saw playing time in five games last season. He is coming off a breakout game in last week’s heartbreaking 31-24 loss at Troy, when he recorded two quarterback sacks and forced a fumble. Suddenly, he is someone Western Kentucky will have to account for when the Hilltoppers hit Cajun Field for UL Homecoming on Saturday. “I’ve come a long way,” Onyenekwu said. “At first, I had trouble understanding the scheme. After that I had to learn confidence in the game, so I could just react and play. I’m still learning from seniors like Terrel Richardson. He’s got the best defensive end technique on the team. I want to be the best I can be, for next season and beyond.” Teammates have noticed his drive. “Emeka has stepped up,” said linebacker Devon-Lewis Buchanan. “He’s a workaholic, on and off the field. He works o perfecting his technique.” On defense, there rarely is time to analyze plays on the spot. Practice and film study have to pave the way for Saturdays, when instinct ideally takes over. “The key is being able to play fast within the scheme,” Onyenekwu said. “That allows me to make more plays. At first, I was afraid to mess up. I was slow at first. But I’ve been learning the whole defense through the spring and summer. “I know what this defense can do when at its best, so it’s not a surprise.” There were times last Saturday when the inspired Cajuns were ready to knock off perennial Sun Belt Conference power Troy. “It felt good to get some stops on them, to take my game to the next level,” said Onyenekwu. “It’s nice when you can contribute.” The Cajuns were underdogs the past two games against Oklahoma State and Troy. They lost both but showed flashes of promise. WKU enters Saturday’s game as a winless underdog, so the onus is on UL to keep the Toppers at bay. “We have to approach the game the same way,” Onyenekwu said. “We have to show the same intensity and drive if we expect to win. They have a great running game (WKU junior Bobby Rainey leads the SBC with 771 yards and 7 touchdowns on 154 carries), so I know we’ll focus on the run a lot more. What they do is not complicated, but they do it well.” Onyenekwu has already come a long way. He plans to be in the mix for the Cajuns, both on Saturday and in the second half of the season.
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