Chigoziem Okonkwo is looking national and he has a plan
POWDER SPRINGS, Ga. — Evan Engram is about to get drafted into the NFL out of Ole Miss. The hybrid who ran a sub 4.5 second time in the 40 yard dash at the NFL Combine started his career at Powder Springs (Ga.) Hillgrove.
That is now home to Chigoziem Okonkwo. Engram and Chigoziem play the exact same position in high school, they are used the same way and the two have drawn comparisons. A couple of people that were around Hillgrove when Engram was there says Chigoziem is better.
The 6-foot-3, 220 pound wide receiver/tight end has added some big over over the last few weeks. Colorado State, Georgia Tech, Marshall and Maryland are some who have offered. He will add more over the next month and a half during the spring evaluation period.
When Okonkwo feels he has his offers in, he is going to truly start the process. He will start to eliminate schools and he has a number he wants to get do to before moving forward with official visits. Georgia Tech and Maryland are two schools who have offered that are high on his list now with another out west he is hoping to impress in the coming months.
IN HIS WORDS...
GEORGIA TECH: "I like how Georgia Tech is close to home and my sister goes there, so that is cool. I am in contact with them a lot and I like the education they offer, the overall program and I am very familiar with the school. Coach Paul Johnson is the coach that offered me and we have talked a few times and I like him too."
MARYLAND: "I am likely going to get up to Maryland for a visit this summer. I do not know too much about their program yet, but I am speaking with a couple of their coaches on a regular basis. One is coach [Pete] Lembo (tight ends) and he talks to me about their program, what they are building, about their education and everything that is not football. Then, when I talk to coach [Walt] Bell (Offensive coordinator), he talks to me about the offense, how I could fit into it and things like that."
STANFORD: "The combination of academics and football is perfect I think. I have gotten some mail, they have been through the school a couple of times and I would really like to get an offer from them. I plan to get out to one of their camps this summer to see if I can show out and earn the offer. It would be a big offer for me."
THE PLAN: "I am thinking right now that I want to narrow my list down to three schools this fall, then take three official visits. The timing does not really matter, but my plan is to take some of my official visits first to make sure of things."
KEY FACTORS: "Education is very important to me and I am looking for an offense that I fit into. I want to be in an offense that gets the ball to me. Evan Engram found his perfect fit at Ole Miss, so I am looking for that same type of fit. I just want to be used properly."
RIVALS REACTION...
If Stanford offers, this one could be over. Okonkwo really likes the Cardinal and he is really hoping to earn that offer in June. Clemson is another school who he likes, but the Tigers are not showing much interest yet. Georgia Tech may be the favorite due to the connection, location and what they have to offer, but he loves the way Maryland is recruiting him. Okonkwo will add offers in the coming weeks and likely into the summer. He is nowhere near a decision.
