Feature special to wmubroncos.com by Paul Morgan

KALAMAZOO, Mich.- During last year's amazing 13-1 Western Michigan football season, personnel from virtually all the National Football League teams came to Kalamazoo to watch senior right tackle Taylor Moton practice and also watch him on film.

But there was one thing a lot of them said.

''Who's that guy on the left?''

That guy on the left, 6-foot, 6-inch, 330-pound senior Chukwuma Okorafor, is set to be a first round draft choice in the 2018 NFL Draft next April, according to many mock drafts. Moton was a second round draft choice by the Carolina Panthers and has played in all seven games, protecting quarterback Cam Newton.

This season, Okorafor is the player virtually all the NFL teams have come to see in person and on film.

''We've had more NFL teams come through here and it's like nothing I've ever seen,'' Broncos head coach Tim Lester said. ''The NFL loves him.''

His meandering background just adds to how far he has come. He was born in Africa and lived in several African countries before coming to the United States just before his freshman year in high school. He played soccer throughout his African youth and didn't take up football until coming here.

''When I first came over here, I was just playing football with my friends and I didn't start playing on the team (Southfield) until my sophomore year,'' Okorafor said. ''I moved to tackle in my junior year.''

Added Lester: ''The amazing thing is that on Aug. 8, during fall camp, he turned 20 years old. When he came to Western, he was only 16. It's intriguing as to what he can do at the next level because he doesn't have a ton of football years under his belt.''

Okorafor, along with offensive linemates junior Zach Novoselsky (junior right tackle, 6-5, 300), guards Mike Caliendo (freshman, 6-5, 300) and Luke Juriga (sophomore, 6-4, 295), center John Keenoy (junior, 6-3, 300) and tight end Donnie Ernsberger (senior, 6-3, 255), are opening some very large holes. Western Michigan is second in the Mid-American Conference in rushing per game at 235.6.

Senior running back Jarvion Franklin is third in the MAC, rushing for an average of 80.2 yards. Junior Jamauri Bogan is sixth at 67.0 yards per game. In last Saturday's 20-17 victory over Eastern Michigan, Franklin became the career rushing leader at Western Michigan. He now has 4,281 yards.

The Broncos (5-3 overall, 3-1 in the MAC West) host Central Michigan (4-4, 2-2 MAC West) in an 8 p.m. game on Wednesday which will be aired nationally on ESPN2.

''We got lucky, Jamauri and I,'' Franklin said. ''Running behind him is a tremendous blessing.''

Franklin doesn't really watch what Okorafor specifically does on the line, ''But I know when it's tough, I can count on him to win his one-on-one matchup. I can always find two yards behind him.''

Franklin, Bogan and running back Leo Ekwoge are roommates with Okorafor, and on days when they decide to have a barbeque with some other friends, what they can't find is leftovers.

''Sometimes when we grill, it's like eight steaks, 20 brats and some chicken and Chukes has several plates and they are all full,'' Franklin said with a smile. ''He's a growing guy.''

He has grown a lot from when he was in high school.

''I was probably 6-3 or 6-4 and 280 pounds in high school,'' Okorafor said. ''I couldn't tell you where I get my height because my dad is 6-foot, my mom is 5-7 and my brother is around 6-0.''

He had close to 40 scholarship offers as a senior.

''I chose Western Michigan because I felt at home and I didn't want to go anywhere else,'' Okorafor said. ''When I first started playing as a sophomore in high school, I thought I might go to Kalamazoo College and just play for fun.''

According to Lester, the tackle is having a lot of fun.

''Chukes always has a smile on his face,'' Lester said. ''He's getting more football smart every time he plays and there's nothing he can't do.''

Lester talks about a time in the season-opening game against USC where Okorafor was told to alter the way he dropped back. The senior made the change on the next play and it worked to perfection.

Okorafor feels his soccer background has helped him with his footwork, which is a huge asset, according to Lester.

''He can accelerate really well and the guys from the NFL can see how good he runs,'' the coach said. ''Because he moves so well, at worst case, they have a guard.

''They are looking at him as a tackle, and if he's not quick enough for the left, he definitely can play the right.''

Okorafor still has some soccer mentality, though.

''He still thinks he's a soccer player,'' Lester said with a chuckle. ''I've given him a couple of chances to kick a football and it's not pretty. That 330 pounds haven't helped his leg swing.''

Which means there are a lot of goaltenders very happy they don't have a 330-pounder running at them.