Try to imagine Chukwuma Okorafor, a 6-foot 6-inch 315 pound man, playing the sport of soccer. Instead, imagine him pushing people around as a member of the Western Michigan football team's offensive line. Most people would agree, Okorafor made the right decision by going with football.
Okorafor came over to the United States in 2010 from the Republic of Botswana, a landlocked country in southern Africa. In Botswana he played soccer and only soccer. When he came the U.S. being two years younger than everyone in his grade, people started to take notice that Okorafor could excel as an offensive lineman. Those people were right.
“I started to watch football once I came over here in 2010 so I just felt like I could do it,” Okorafor said. “One time during gym my coach came up and started talking to me about playing so I just thought, why not give it a shot.”
As a sophomore at Southfield High School, Okorafor was two years younger than everyone in his class. A newcomer to football, he had the role of the team's kicker as he learned the game as an offensive lineman. But as he grew and received more practice at Southfield the better he got, to the point where big name Power 5 schools starting taking notice. In fact, Ohio State, Nebraska, Florida, Arkansas, Iowa, and many others all offered him a scholarship. All of this while he was just a 16-year old high school senior.
“I mean a guy that looks like that as a 16-year old, now he's just 18 and that's the thing, he's a true sophomore that's 18 years old,” Broncos head coach P.J. Fleck said. “He went against two first round draft picks (against Michigan State) and I think he learned valuable lessons he can use as he continues to play. He's a phenomenal young man that's learning how to be a better person every single day.”
Now an 18-year old sophomore, “Chukes” as he goes by, is now the starting right tackle for Western Michigan after appearing in 12 games with no starts as freshmen. He came into WMU as the highest rated offensive lineman to ever sign at Mid-American Conference team and now it's all about the Bronco coaching staff to help him grow to his highest potential.
“He's a guy that I make sure that I communicate with him and don't assume he knows everything and that's the biggest thing because he has great work ethic and great pride but it is a process and as long as he continues to change his best on a daily basis he is going to be a really good lineman,” offensive line coach Brian Callahan said. “He's got raw talent, he's obviously got the frame, he's got the longest arms on the offensive line, he can run, and he's got natural strength.”
Okorafor, a business major hoping to own his own business someday, came to the U.S. because his parents wanted to give their family a better life growing up. So far, Okorafor has taken full advantage of that opportunity as a member of the Broncos. His favorite memory of his young career is playing his first snap of college football against Purdue of last season in week one on August, 30, 2014. The coaching staff believes he is in for a long and successful career at Western Michigan, but they believe that decision solely relies on Okorafor.
“He'll be as good as he wants to become and that's the good thing about Chukes is that he has the clay to be whatever he wants,” Fleck said. “The challenge will be for him to dedicate himself to being the best he can really be and that's what he's got to own up to and continue to chase.”
