Oct. 2, 2015; Winnipeg; University of Manitoba defensive lineman David Onyemata (97) rushes against the Regina Rams. (Jeff Miller/Bison Sports)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Chiefs held a predraft visit Tuesday with University of Manitoba defensive lineman David Onyemata, a source informed The Topeka Capital-Journal and ChiefsDigest.com.
The source spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Chiefs don’t announce predraft visits.
The 6-3, 300-pound Onyemata, a native of Lagos, Nigeria, didn’t start playing football until arriving in Canada in 2011, but he quickly picked up the game.
Onyemata, who totaled 50 tackles and 7 ½ sacks in 2015, was selected as the recipient of the J.P. Metras Trophy, which recognizes the Outstanding Down Lineman of the Year in Canadian college football.
He also earned a first-team All-Canadian selection at defensive tackle and was named the 2015 Canada West Lineman of the Year, leading to an invitation to the East-West Shrine Game.
Onyemata mostly played in the interior of the defensive line while at Manitoba, but showed versatility in the Shrine Game by lining up outside as a defensive end.
While Onyemata did not receive an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine, 17 NFL teams traveled to Canada on March 14 to attend his Pro Day workout, according to the school’s official website.
Onyemata impressed with 33 repetitions on the bench press event, a mark that would have tied as the most among defensive lineman participating in the Combine. Onyemata also posted a 5.06 time in the 40-yard dash, a 7.25 time in the 3-cone drill, a 4.65 time in the short shuttle, a 33” vertical leap and a 9’11” broad jump.
CBS Sports and NFLDraftScout.com currently project Onyemata as a sixth- or seventh-round pick, but interest has grown since his Pro Day workout.
In addition to visiting the Chiefs, Onyemata has been on “multiple predraft visits” with unnamed teams, according to the source.
NFL teams are allowed to host a maximum of 30 prospect visits before the draft, which occurs April 28-30. The visits could include interviews, physicals and written examinations. Teams are not allowed to put a visiting prospect through a workout.
Onyemata is the fourth defensive lineman confirmed by the Capital-Journal and ChiefsDigest.com as having met with the Chiefs on a predraft visit. UTEP defensive lineman Roy Robertson, Oregon State defensive lineman Kyle Peko and Washington State defensive lineman Destiny Vaeao are the other three.
The Chiefs also hosted Vanderbilt guard Jake Bernstein on a predraft visit.
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Herbie Teope is the lead Chiefs beat writer for The Topeka Capital-Journal and ChiefsDigest.com. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter: @HerbieTeope.
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