Kene Onyeka
No. 99     Ottawa Redblacks
Onyeka with the Redblacks in 2022
Born: (1996-11-18) November 18, 1996
Lagos, Nigeria
Career information
StatusActive
CFL statusNational
Position(s)Defensive lineman
Height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight247 lb (112 kg)
UniversityCarleton
CFL Draft2018 / Round: 4 / Pick: 29
Drafted byOttawa Redblacks
Career history
As player
2018Ottawa Redblacks*
2019–presentOttawa Redblacks
*Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Honours2x First Team All-Canadian
(2017, 2018)
Career stats

Kene Onyeka (born November 18, 1996) is a professional Canadian football defensive lineman for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

University career

Onyeka played U Sports football for the Carleton Ravens from 2014 to 2018.[1] In 2017, Onyeka was named a First Team All-Canadian and the OUA top lineman as he recorded 32 solo tackles, including 12.5 tackles for a loss, 14 assisted tackles, 10.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles.[2][3] He repeated both awards following the 2018 season, despite only playing in six of the eight regular season games as he had 21 solo tackles (10.5 tackles for a loss), six assisted tackles, and seven sacks.[4]

Professional career

While eligible to be selected in the 2018 CFL Draft, Onyeka informed Canadian Football League teams that he planned to return to university to complete his mechanical engineering degree at Carleton University.[1] He had been ranked as the 14th best player available in the draft in the winter rankings, but his draft stock fell as teams knew he would not play for them in 2018.[5] Nonetheless, he was drafted with the 29th overall selection, in the fourth round, of the 2018 draft by the Ottawa Redblacks and signed with the team on May 16, 2018.[6] After attending 2018 training camp, he returned to complete his final year of U Sports eligibility.

After his fifth season with the Ravens, Onyeka re-signed with the Redblacks on December 3, 2018.[7] He began the 2019 season on the practice roster, but was promoted to the active roster and played in his first professional game on August 2, 2019, against the Montreal Alouettes.[8] He played in six regular season games that year and recorded three special teams tackles.[9]

Due to the cancellation of the 2020 CFL season, Onyeka did not play in 2020. Instead, he signed a contract extension with the Redblacks on January 6, 2021.[10] Following training camp, he made the team's opening day roster and made his first defensive tackle on August 7, 2021 against the Edmonton Elks.[11] Later in the year, he recorded his first two career sacks on October 11, 2021 in the Thanksgiving Day Classic against the Montreal Alouettes when he brought down Vernon Adams twice in the game.[12] He played in 13 regular season games in 2021 where he had 14 defensive tackles, eight special teams tackles, two sacks, and one forced fumble.[9] Onyeka continued his development into his third season in the league, in which he played in 17 regular season games recording 17 defensive tackles, nine special teams tackles, five sacks and one forced fumble. On December 20, 2022 Onyeka and the Redblacks agreed to a two-year contract extension.[13]

Personal life

Onyeka was born in Lagos, Nigeria to parents Jane and Godfrey Onyeka Sr.[14] He moved with his family to Canada when he was nine years old and grew up in Brampton, Ontario.[14] His older brother, Godfrey Onyeka, plays professionally in the CFL as a defensive back.[14] His cousin, Nakas Onyeka, played linebacker and was drafted by the Toronto Argonauts, and his other cousin, Kosi Onyeka, a defensive back, signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.[14]

References

  1. 1 2 Fox, Liam (September 26, 2018). ""Not everyone gets the opportunity to play in front of that many people, so you kind of cherish it": Ravens Star and Redblack-Draftee Kene Onyeka Prepares for His Final Panda Game". ottawalife.com.
  2. ↑ "Onyeka named U Sports 1st Team All-Canadian". Carleton Ravens. June 20, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Carleton's Kene Onyeka honoured with OUA's J.P. Metras Award". Carleton University. November 10, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Kene Onyeka". U Sports. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Onyeka ranked No. 14 on CFL Scouting Bureau's 2018 Draft prospect list". Carleton Ravens. December 13, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Redblacks sign 2018 draft picks". Ottawa Redblacks. May 16, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Transactions – Football player trades and signings". Canadian Football League. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  8. ↑ Baines, Tim (August 2, 2019). "A CLASS ACT: Graduating from Carleton was No. 1 priority for Redblacks' Kene Onyeka". Ottawa Sun.
  9. 1 2 "Kene Onyeka". Canadian Football League. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Redblacks transactions – New year, new signings". Ottawa Redblacks. January 6, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Ottawa Redblacks vs Edmonton Elks Boxscore". Canadian Football League. August 7, 2021.
  12. ↑ Baines, Tim (October 13, 2021). "SACK-CESS! Nigel Romick and Kene Onyeka provide some sunshine for Redblacks". Ottawa Sun.
  13. ↑ "Defensive lineman Kene Onyeka re-signs with Ottawa Redblacks". TSN. The Canadian Press. 2022-12-20. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Baines, Tim (March 25, 2018). "All in the family as Onyeka brothers/cousins push each other to excellence". Ottawa Sun.
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