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Nii Adjei Oninku - Football - University of Kentucky Athletics 97

Nii AdjeiOninku

  • height 6-1
  • Weight 254
  • class Senior
  • High school Northmont
BIO
  • UK Most Valuable Defensive Scout Team Player by UK coaches (2004)

His return to the field will be a key piece to the puzzle at defensive end … Gives the team additional veteran presence at the position … Missed the 2007 season because of a knee injury, a disappointing blow for a projected starter … Was a part-time starter during the 2005-06 seasons … Noted for his all-out effort and solid fundamental performance … Has played in 23 games, with 10 starts.

2007 (Junior): Missed the season because of a preseason knee injury.

2006 (Sophomore): Played in 12 games, including five starts … Had 12 tackles, including season high of three stops in win over Mississippi State … Member of the kickoff coverage team and punt coverage team … Sustained broken hand in the win over Vanderbilt but returned to earn starting assignment against Tennessee.

2005 (Redshirt Freshman): Played in all 11 games … Started five games when the regular ends missed contests because of injury … Totaled 24 tackles, including a career-high five vs. Auburn … Had two tackles for loss during the season.

2004 (Freshman): Redshirted … Dedicated work in practice earned the UK Most Valuable Defensive Scout Team Player Award … Also chosen the scout team player of the week once during the season.

High School: Highly-regarded defensive line prospect … Three-year letterman and two-year starter as a defensive end at Northmont HS in Clayton, Ohio … Second-team all-state as a junior and senior by the Ohio sportswriters … First-team all-conference, all-district, and all-area in both years … Standout senior campaign featured 109 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, eight quarterback sacks, two fumbles caused, one recovery, and two pass breakups … Made 98 tackles, including seven sacks, as a junior … Helped Northmont to a two-year record of 18-5, including state playoff appearances both seasons … Ranked as one of the nation’s top-30 defensive end prospects and the No. 37 prospect in Ohio by Rivals.com … Listed as the No. 73 prospect in the six-state Midwest Region by SuperPrep … Named All-Midwest Region by PrepStar… Played in the Ohio North-South All-Star Game … Coached by Lance Schneider … “Nii Adjei had an athletic edge over most kids,” Schneider said. “He also was well-advanced with his pass-rush technique and knows how to use his hands. Kentucky is going to be very glad to have him.” … Played one year of basketball at Northmont … A two-year letterman for the track and field team, competing in the discus throw … Member of the school’s honor society … Nominated for the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award … Decided for Kentucky over Kansas State, Iowa, Michigan State, Louisville, and Pittsburgh.

Personal: Name is pronounced “KNEE ad-JAY o-NIN-coo” … Born in Cincinnati, Ohio … Son of Seth Oninku and Rebecca Oninku … An uncle, Joe Fumi, played football at Marshall … Another uncle, Steve Fumi, played football at Miami (Ohio) … Major is human nutrition.

Oninku Career StatisticsYearPositionG-GSTacklesTFL-Yds.Sacks-Yds.FRFC2005Def. End11-5242-40002006 Def. End12-5120.5-0000Totals23-10362.5-4000
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