MetroWest Daily News: Framingham State's Joshua Onujiogu works out for Patriots, sets sights on the NFL Draft

By: Lenny Megliola, MetroWest Daily News

The phone rings in Framingham State University's athletic department.

Kathy Lynch, 17 years of handling the business of sports information, picks up. The local paper is seeking photos of a football player named Joshua Onujiogu. It just so happens that Lynch has her hands on a folder of Onujiogu photos.

In fact, she's getting used to such calls. The National Football League, ESPN, NFL Network and NFL teams. They want more than photos – they want film, stats, measurements, personality traits. Anything you've got on Onujiogu. Now this isn't exactly a common occurrence at Framingham State. No way. But out of the blue, Onujiogu appears to be, well, uncommon.

This just in. Framingham State does not play in the ACC, the Big 10, the SEC. It competes in the MASCAC, not a breeding ground for, you know, NFL people. But NFL people leave no stone unturned. If you create a buzz, at any school, they will find you.

And so, they want to see more of this 6-foot-3, 250-pound defensive end at FSU – move over Florida State. Onujiogu has simply shattered Framingham State's record book. This past season: 13.5 sacks in 11 games; 25 tackles for losses; league defensive player of the year for the second time. Never missed a game in his college career.

Oh, they'll find you. Near, far, in the middle. The Patriots called him in for a workout. At a Pro Day at Holy Cross, about a dozen NFL types looked him over. Maybe a long shot for the draft, yet a curious project, too.

"My phone blew up. Everyone was looking for him," Framingham State football head coach Tom Kelley said. "Everyone knows him on campus. They call him 'Uno.'"

So how did Onujiogu wind up on the hill looking down at Route 9 from the Framingham State campus, if he was such a hot ticket? "He fell through the cracks," said Kelley, who was more than happy to pick up the pieces.

'The kid's a great story'

When Onujiogu graduated from Wareham High, he wondered where the college recruiters were.

"Senior year, I had no feelers," he said. "I was unrecruited. I was afraid I wouldn't be playing any more football. I knew I had an exposure problem. I didn't go to any camps. I knew I'd have to walk-on (in college). I didn't have $50,000 to spend."

Framingham State made him an offer. Onujiogu ran with it. "A (high school) coach told me 'You've got to see this kid,'" Kelley said.

And from that humble, yet fledging, point, Onujiogu has come to this.

"The kid's a great story," said his agent Joe Linta, who worked a $220 million contract for Joe Flacco in 2013. Somehow, Linta manages to work the NFL high-stake circuit and coach a high school team in Connecticut.

Linta, who runs JL Sport, first took notice of Onujiogu when he was scouting the East-West game. "I looked at Josh's film and thought 'Holy cow.'" Linta exhorted a simple 'Wow!' Get his (phone) number," after a YouTube viewing of Onujiogu.

Word was spreading. At Holy Cross, "Josh was killin' it," FSU's assistant coach, Shane Daly, said. "We'd seen a couple of his workouts, but never seen anything like this. We're proud of him. He studies football hours on end.

"He's self taught."

Working out for the Patriots

Onujiogu's Foxborough appointment raised a few eyebrows. "The Patriots liked his athleticism," said Daly.

For Onujiogu, working out at Gillette Stadium was "eye-opening, being on the middle of the field. I was very excited to show them what I had."

He did some sight-seeing also.

"I looked around at some of the iconic moments there." Iconic coach, too. "Just missed seeing (Bill) Belichick, who was working with the offense."

Onujiogu, 24 now, was 6-foot, 178 pounds as a high school freshman. "My dad, O.B., told me 'You're going to get bigger. You'll grow until you're 25.'" No problem. "I'm a gym rat." The muscularity came.

His dad played at small college Wayne State. "He had his shot, but not like I'm having now," said the son. He appreciates where he is, and how far he's come, long shot or not.

And here's the thing. "Since I was seven years old my goal was to play in the NFL. I was thinking about it all the time."

Through youth leagues football, high school, college, it kept adding up. The dream is a little closer now. A hard road, sure. A long shot, yep.

'He's going to get signed'

Onujiogu may not hear his name ring out during the draft, but "he's going to get signed," insisted agent Linta. How about that? Onujiogu said Linta is a "true blessing."

His coaches have always sung praise of Onujiogu's innate leadership ability. "Since the youth leagues I've always been a team captain."

He also was a little runt trying to make an impression on his older brothers, especially Justin, seven years older. They'd mess around playing basketball.

"It was rough, sometimes I cried," he said. "My brother would tell the other kids 'Don't take it easy on him.' But I kept trying to beat them."

"Josh was always supportive of the young players on the team," Kelley said. "He was no prima donna."

Helluva player, that's what he was. Helluva story, too. They make movies like this.

Onujiogu got used to no one paying him much attention until he got to Framingham State, where Kelley and his staff took him on as an act of faith.

It wasn't big-time college football, and it wasn't like anyone could sense that Onujiogu would have to pay close watch on the NFL Draft for three days. Or even the days after, when the unpicked get a second look, and get a contract to sign.

Framingham State opened a door. "All I wanted was an opportunity," Joshua Onujiogu insisted.

And he's getting it. Let's see if his story has wings.