He could be the best player who has never put on pads

Exactly a month ago, I was wandering around the football complex at Tennessee State University. Buck Fitzgerald was hosting the National Playmaker's Academy Exposure Camp which featured some of the top talent in the mid-south area if not the country. It was the first event of this type that I had covered, and I decided the best strategy might be to follow around some of the more experienced writers who knew these combines like the back of their hands.

Among the 400 players who were there, was a young man who looked almost as raw and out of place as I was. Naturally, not every player is going to look experienced and smooth, but when this young man is 6-foot-8, 263 pounds, he tends to stand out. As I listened to Fitzgerald and co-founder Cedrick Wilson, I found out the young man's name was Obinna Eze (2017 prospect). Furthermore, it turned out that he had just moved to the United States from Nigeria, and had never played a down of football in his life. I wasn't surprised by that fact from watching him. Good luck young man.

This past Sunday, I attended Fitzgerald's second event in the past month in Knoxville, Tennessee. Looking for some familiar faces, I spotted my tall acquaintance, playing on the offensive line. What I saw was amazing. He was participating in intense lineman drills against very good competition and more than holding his own. His technique was very good, he put people on the ground, and nobody was getting past him. He also wanted to go every rep. He was competitive, confident, and showed a mean streak. In fact, coaches had to get between him and his opponent several times after the play was over. He was definitely playing to the whistle. If I had improved as much in a month as he has, I would be writing editorials for the New York Times.

As with anyone new to our country, Eze has a fascinating story. The Arkansas Wings, a prolific AAU basketball program, went to Nigeria and put on basketball clinics. They were impressed with the Obinna, so much in fact that he made their Top-6 players. Last summer, he came to the states to play in an AAU Tournament. He aquitted himself well enough that he was offered by an academy out of Maryland. Eze then went back to his native country to get his paperwork in order, thinking he was moving to America's Eastern Seaboard. But things did not work out, and instead he came across Davidson Academy in Nashville. He moved to Music City this past March.

A few weeks later, Eze met Buck Fitzgerald, and the coach told him he needed to give football a try even though he didn't know anything about the sport. "I thought he could be an offensive lineman. He played post in basketball, so I told him it was just like playing inside. You slide your feet, and the advantage is you get to hand check all you want to," said Fitzgerald.

So toward the end of May, Obinna began his new craft, working with former University of Tennessee and Minnesota Vikings tackle, Antonio "Tiny" Richardson. For four hours a day, Eze has run hills, cones, lifted weights, and worked on technique. What has transpired is the birth of a player.

"It's been a challenge," said Obinna. "I like football. It requires a passion. I know what I've done is nothing like a game yet. I haven't even put on any pads."

Nevertheless, Fitzgerald sees an incredible prospect. "You see what he's done in such a short period of time. He's only been working three weeks."

When asked how good Eze could be, the coach who has had many four and five star recruits responded, "He can be in the Top Ten nationally. He can be a left tackle extraordinaire."

Given all the expectations, Eze stays grounded. In talking to him, it is obvious that he has a plan, and the process of being successful has been well thought out. "You have to expect to be great, and I do. I have time to improve and I will work hard. It is important to always do your best."

When asked what he has learned about the actual playing of a football game, he responds "I watch NFL and college replays constantly."

Eze says his eventual goal is to play both football and basketball in college. To do this, he understands the body type that it will take. "In basketball, you must remain light and quick. In football, I must gain weight. So I have to gain weight bit by bit. My goal is to gain weight without gaining fat. I want to get to the 290 pound to 300 pound level. That is why I am working hard in the weightroom."

The hype revolving around a young man who has yet to be welcomed to the bottom of a pile is fascinating. Rarely does one see this type of situation. But rarely does one see this type of talent and ceiling around a kid with this level of inexperience either. The obvious things are that he has a body, athleticism, a work ethic, intelligence, and a plan. It is going to be fun to watch the future of Obinna Eze unfold.