Ethan Onianwa

Ethan Onianwa (OH-nee-on-wah), who has two sisters and one brother, grew up with his parents (Azuka and Ijeoma), who are both Nigerian immigrants. He was born in Flint, Mich., before moving to Nigeria for several years. When he was 6, Onianwa’s family relocated to the Houston area, and he discovered football soon after that. He attended Cinco Ranch High School, where he was a three-year starter on both the offensive and defensive lines — he earned all-district honors as a junior right tackle (also played baseball). A three-star recruit, he signed with Rice over Vanderbilt, SMU and several Ivy League programs. He was a three-year starter at Rice before entering the transfer portal and receiving a lucrative NIL package from Ohio State. However, he lost the starting right tackle battle during preseason camp and was used as a reserve guard in 2025 (just 96 offensive snaps). Onianwa is a massive human, with long arms, thickness in his quads and a tall, broad frame. He is an average athlete and has mediocre foot quickness to mirror speed in space, but his body control and bend help him get the job done. He is more consistent in the run game, where he can lean on defenders and create movement with sheer force. NFL scouts speak highly of his intelligence, work habits and 301 Back to table of contents -- 305 of 629 -- character. Overall, Onianwa’s inability to win a starting job on an average Ohio State offensive line is an obvious red flag, but his size and raw ability are worth bringing to camp and potentially adding to the practice squad.