Clinton Anokwuru didn’t expect to choose Kansas when he took his official visit a week before National Signing Day.
The 3-star defensive end from Richmond, Texas went to Lawrence in late January before eventually visiting Washington State a few days later. Anokwuru, who was also considering Virginia Tech, had low expectations for his visit to KU.
“I guess Kansas is a big wheat state, so I thought it was going to be like a farm,” Anokwuru told the Journal-World during a phone interview in February. “When I took my visit, I didn’t think I was going to go there.”
Anokwuru’s opinion was changed after his midweek visit, obviously. He admitted that he could see himself living there after the visit, and was particularly drawn to the academic side of things at the University of Kansas.
One week later, Anokwuru signed his letter of intent to join KU’s 2020 class and he plans to begin in the fall. According to Rivals, Anokwuru is a 6-foot-3, 235-pound weakside defensive end out of Fort Bend Bush.
“Clinton is going to be able to take an edge on a tackle and get to that quarterback,” Kansas head coach Les Miles said during his press conference on National Signing Day. “He’s a great pass rush guy.”
But the Jayhawks might never have had a chance to land Anokwuru, after he decommitted from Texas Tech, had it not been for one particular relationship between the talented pass rushing prospect and a member of the KU coaching staff.
Chidera Uzo-Diribe, who was promoted to outside linebackers coach in January, played a huge part in Anokwuru’s recruitment. And it was because both Uzo-Diribe and Anokwuru are from the Igbo tribe, a fact they both knew before they ever met each other in person.
“I knew he was in that tribe right away because of his name,” Uzo-Diribe said. “There is a unique bond amongst us in the Nigerian community. So I think that bond really helped his family feel comfortable with me, and make him feel comfortable with us. So it was a unique situation.”
Like Uzo-Diribe, Anokwuru knew of his connection with the KU coach before meeting because he has a brother named Chidera. The two were able to communicate in their own language and talk about their similar background.
“We could relate on another level,” Anokwuru said. “It means a lot to have somebody from the same place that I have been.”
They have a similar connection on the football field, too.
Uzo-Diribe was a four-year letterman at defensive end for the Colorado football program. He finished his career tied for sixth in quarterback sacks with 20. He recorded a solo tackle on 99 of his 118 stops, which is the highest percentage (83.9%) of solo stops to overall tackles in CU history.
Uzo-Diribe signed with the New Orleans Saints as a free agent in 2015, and eventually decided to coach after being waived during training camp. He served as quality control for KU’s defense in 2019 before being promoted this offseason.
“It had a good advantage to it,” Anokwuru said of his similarities with Uzo-Diribe.
Per his Maxpreps page, Anokwuru had 43 total tackles (29 solo stops) in seven games during his senior season with Fort Bend Bush. He also finished with 13.5 tackles-for-loss and three sacks.
Anokwuru was slated to compete in track this spring, though the season has since been suspended indefinitely. Anokwuru, who was the only boy from his school to make it to regionals last year, was hoping to qualify for state in discus. He also throws shot put and runs the 100-meter dash.
Anokwuru believes that throwing events, like discus, can translate to the football field. It helps his hip movement on spin moves, while he’s already able to come hard off the edge. For now, Anokwuru is just focused on preparing himself for the start of fall.
“(I’m) just trying to get right for KU,” Anokwuru said. “That way, when I get up there, it will be a smooth transition, and I’ll get to compete against the other guys that are over there.”
