New Bears in Town: Cal Frosh ILB Eze Osondu

One of the Bears’ earlier commits in the 2024 recruiting class, Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, TX) MLB Eze Osondu‍ was one of a big contingent of early entry frosh who enrolled early and participated in spring ball in March and April in his initial semester at Cal.

The 6-3/222 middle linebacker had the chance to see a decent amount of reps in the spring and distinguished himself well on the field.

"It went great, overall," Osondu noted of his transition to Cal. “The transition coming from high school, especially with the quick change-around (as a midyear entry), I think with the older guys really bringing us in and making us feel comfortable with the area and with the workouts, helping push us harder, pushing us to get us to that level and to the standard, especially going into the next year. But just overall as a team, everybody's upping their standard every day so the transition was great."

The strength and conditioning program also had an impact on the new Bear as he added nearly 20 lbs of muscle since hitting campus in addition to adding two inches in height since his junior season.

"It went great, especially coming in around 205," Osondu said of his first semester in the S&C program. "Right now I'm sitting at 222. So I'm feeling good, but definitely eating a lot, getting good reps in the weight room, getting ready as a team."

A defensive lineman until his senior season, Osondu’s coach saw his most likely path the the next level at linebacker and he made the transition his senior year, totaling 61 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 4 sacks for his Byron Nelson squad who went 13-1 and reached the 6A Division 2 state quarterfinals.

"Especially the summer going from my junior year into my senior year. I feel like that was big, especially with my coach talking to me -my high school coach- he's a great coach. He was telling me how he saw how he thought my college career was gonna play out and he wanted to prepare me. So he told me that it was gonna be a big transition to linebacker.

“I played a lot of edge. Transitioning into linebacker, being able to read pass concepts and read all the run concepts with pulls and ISOs, inside run, all those. I feel like I did a good job transitioning into the linebacker position."

Osondu also became more comfortable with the pass coverage elements involved in his transition to MLB.

"Yeah, especially from the start of reading routes," Osondu said. "I feel like I can really identify who's the 1 receiver, 2 receiver, 3 receiver, and just the route combinations and concepts."

The Texas frosh was inspired by how quickly a true frosh like Cade Uluave was able to step in midseason and dominate from day one at MLB.

"Most definitely, most definitely," Osondu said. "That's my guy, too. And even like me, coming in early, I had that mindset of I wanted to come early to prove what I can do, to hopefully get in the spotlight. But I'd say it's also been kind of inspirational, just him telling us his story and now him getting put in that position and showing what he can do and shine. I feel like it's just something like we all want to be. I'm happy for Cade but I'm excited to see what it can turn into with me coming in early and coming into the next season."

Osondu appreciates that his position coach - DC/MLB coach Peter Sirmon coaches both his position group and runs the overall defensive scheme and is doing his best to soak it all up.

"It's great, because Coach Sirmon, the way he explains things, because as he's the DC too, he can explain it from our perspective and how the safeties are gonna see it, too,” Osondu noted. “So I feel like it really helps us understand the defense as a whole."

With his home state of Texas sweltering their way through a typical steamy summer, the Texas native is more than appreciative of Berkeley’s temperate climate and the ability to work out without dangerous overexertion and dehydration.

"It's funny too because during workouts, usually Texas is blazing so I keep my shirt off even when it's like a little chilly," Osondu said. "People are questioning me, like, 'Why you got your shirt off?' I'm like, 'Just go with it! This is great weather.'

“I'm loving it. I'm soaking it all in, loving the weather out here."

As for his expectations this season, the new Bear is more than ready to go.

"Most definitely the energy change," Osondu said of what he’s most looking forward to. "Just the energy change and the environment and just playing college football as a whole. It's gonna be a whole different level. I'm just ready to feel that first hit, that first collegiate contact here. Just ready to feel the whole vibe, especially at that first game, I'm ready just for that energy."

Osondu is also looking forward to the Bears’ final regular season game in the shadow of his hometown vs. SMU in Dallas.

“Especially with it being the last game," Osondu said. "It's gonna be Thanksgiving weekend, too. Should be a great show back home."

The new Bear was also able to see the Bears play nearby last season in their season-opening 58-21 win over North Texas, an opportunity he and his family relished as a Cal commit at the time.

"Yeah, most definitely," Osondu said. "Seeing them come up the tunnel, was with my moms. She for sure loved the energy over here. So it was a great game opener, especially in the hometown.

"Go Bears!"

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