Texas MLB Eze Osondu Talks About Commitment to Cal

The Bears picked up a recent commitment from 2024 Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, TX) High School MLB Eze Osondu. We caught up with the 6-1/215 3 star linebacker to get his thoughts on his Cal commitment and how he got on the Bears’ target list as a somewhat off-the-radar player.

"At first I think the program kind of got on my radar when they started following me on Twitter and then they started hitting me up and we just started talking," Osondu said. "Then my 7x7 team had a tournament out in California in the spring so I was able to go and watch their spring practice.

“We already had been talking for a while. And the relationship we build now I feel like is pretty strong and a pretty good bond, especially with the DC. Peter Sirmon. We talk pretty much on a daily basis and also with Coach Taylor (defensive grad asst Austin Taylor), too. Coach Taylor's my guy. He and Coach Sirmon said they like my speed and my versatility how he likes I'm not afraid to go lay down a stick.”

The visit to the Bay Area and to Memorial Stadium and the football facilities made a big impression on the rising senior.

"I didn't get to see the campus but we got to tour the football facilities when I was there,” Osondu said. “I loved the stadium and facilities, especially the weight room. They have a big area and a great weight room and we got to talk to the conditioning coaches and everyone. They even had sleeping pods, which I found very interesting."

The 3.0 student has interest in studying business or potentially the university’s certificate programs in real estate and entrepreneurship, with an eye to starting a business some day in the future after football.

"I feel like the academic part is pretty big because even though I do hope to pursue my football career as far as I can take it, I feel like getting a degree at the University of California, I should be able to take that degree and put it into anything else I can I want to do in the future and it will help me later on in life."

A bit on the light said currently, the newest Bear commit is anxious to get on campus next spring to get a head start on his strength and conditioning and physical development. 

"I'm at 215 right now but I feel like especially because I'm going to enroll early at California, I feel like especially when I get up there, If I could keep my speed where it is now at 4.6 or better, they can develop me and I could maybe play @230."

Even though Osondu played mainly the line last season, he expects to transition to his future position at Cal during his senior season and is already working out there since the end of last season.

"Last year I played mainly defensive end and some linebacker playing close to the line, but I really never went out to pass coverage. But this year, I'm going to play more of a true Mike inside linebacker where I'm dropping into pass coverage and running the run game."

As a junior, Osondu recorded 39 tackles, 8 TFL, 7 sacks, and 1 forced fumble on the season. He becomes the fourth 2024 commit, joining Pasadena TE Camden Jones, Austin, TX OT Tyler Knape and recent DB commit Brooklyn Cheek as the earliest Bears commits.