Notre Dame defensive lineman Jason Onye has experienced just about everything during his time in South Bend.
The highs, the lows, the uncertainty, both on the field and in life.
Instead of preparing for the NFL Draft, the 6-foot-5, 295-pound Rhode Island native is back for a sixth season, embracing one more opportunity in blue and gold.
The process wasn’t easy, but Onye is right where he wants to be.
“Just a bunch of sitting like a duck,” stated Onye on the waiver process. “Not going to lie. Basically, I got back here in January. I want to say a week earlier than when school started because I'm still doing that master's program. But I was training with Will Pauling, Jordan Botelho and Malachi Fields. I was training with Coach (Loren) Landow, expecting the worst-case scenario.”
There was hope at times, but the NCAA’s process isn’t time-friendly, so Onye didn’t know what his future would hold.
“We would hear some optimism from the NCAA office, like they're going to review it tomorrow,” explained Onye. “Tomorrow would come, don't hear anything. It was kind of awkward just being in the locker room, not knowing whether I'm going to be with this team again or not. I’m kind of like the question mark in the room, the elephant in the room.
“I want to say third week maybe in January, second week of January, I got good news from the NCAA that they accepted, approved my hardship waiver, whatever it's called. All in all, I'm blessed to be back here. I love it here.”
Despite having a legitimate path to the NFL, Onye never lost sight of what brought him back.
“The word I would use is opportunity,” stated Onye. “Being able to play at the best university in the country and being able to be with the best guys in the country, both on offense, both on defense, play for the best coach in the country is just something that I don't take for granted.
“A bunch of the guys who come in from different schools, they all talk about how different the culture is here, how different the guys are here, how much more is asked of you here. So just being able to do that one more time and lock in.”
That extra year also gives Onye a chance to refine his game before making the jump to the next level.
His focus is clear.
“Just being able to be a more consistent pass rusher,” Onye stated. “I do well with pressures. Pressures are fine, but you're trying to produce. That's what sticks out. Guys who are producing. Not close but actually getting there and making the play.
“Especially towards the end of last season, I would get there. I was pressuring in guys' faces a lot of the time, but I just wasn't finishing as much as I should have. From Wisconsin all the way to I want to say Syracuse is our last game, being able to just play good football for 12 games and be consistent and then playoffs.”
Onye’s development will take a temporary pause this spring, as he recovers from a broken hand. While the injury will sideline him physically, Onye has found other ways to contribute.
“I basically started my GA career,” Onye explained. “Just making sure I’m getting the guys organized, helping them out with whatever they need. Making sure I'm still looking at the sideline, getting the play every single time. Making sure they're communicating, talking. Making sure the young guys, especially, are up to speed with everything.
“The transfers, they’re starting to get our lingo down so we can play faster. Even though I'm not on the field directly, I'm still doing a lot outside. When there's extra meetings with other guys, I’m making sure I'm still present and the guys can feel me around.”
The sideline perspective has also provided unexpected insight.
“I sort of understand why guys get confused,” stated Onye. “On the field, it's kind of easy for me at this stage of my career to narrow things to what I need to focus on and tune out all the noise. But being on the outside on the sideline and being able to look at the other guys on the field and see what they're seeing and why they're confused, why they're kind of nervous to actually make certain steps, make certain moves, it kind of makes a lot of sense.”
Onye will also be working under his third defensive line coach at Notre Dame, as Charlie Partridge takes over the room. The early impressions have been strong, including a positive review from one of his friends and Partridge’s former players.
“Coach Partridge came from the Colts, where he was coaching really good players. Kwity Paye, who went to my high school back at home, called me. He told me that Coach Partridge was going to be a great coach. Kwity also got coached by Al Washington while he was at Michigan, too.
“He was just telling me they're both great coaches. I'm excited. The first three months Coach Partridge has been here has been great.”
Partridge’s attention to detail has already made an impact.
Onye recalled a film session where something as simple as his stance became a teaching moment.
“Bryce (Young) and I after class one day, we were like, screw it, let's go up to Coach Partridge’s office and watch some film. He puts on a random game. I want to say maybe Syracuse or something or NC State. We watched that game, and he's like, look at this, look at your stance. The play didn't even start yet, just my stance. My knees kind of pointed inside. He's like, I promise you, you're going to step terribly. You're not going to gain ground. You’re going to twitch wrong because your base isn't balanced.
“I'm like, OK, I've never heard that before. He plays the clip. I'm literally stepping inside before working outside. All those little things, all those little intricacies of defensive line, he's been able to point them out for everyone. Just being able to develop a deeper bag. It's been cool.”
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