NiiAdjei Oninku

UK Most Valuable Defensive Scout Team Player by UK coaches (2004)

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 season-high five vs. Auburn … Had two tackles for loss during the season.

2004 (Freshman): 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 in June … 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 … Name is pronounced “KNEE ad-JAY o-NIN-coo.”

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’s Career Statistics

Year  Position  G-GS  Tackles  TFL-Yds. Sacks-Yds. FR  FC2005  Def. End  11-5    24       2-4         0      0   02006  Def. End  12-5    12     0.5-0         0      0   0Totals          23-10   36     2.5-4         0      0   0

Oninku’s Game-by-Game Statistics

2005Opponent        Tackles  TFL-Yds.  Sacks-Yds.Louisville         2        0           0Idaho State        2        0           0at Indiana         1        0           0Florida            0        0           0at South Carolina  4        0           0at Ole Miss        0        0           0Mississippi State  3        0           0Auburn             5       1-2          0at Vanderbilt      0        0           0at Georgia         4       1-2          0Tennessee          3        0           0Totals            24       2-4          0