Horned Frogs First Person: Namdi Obiazor
7/21/2023 11:08:00 AM | Football
Perseverance and hard work paid off for the Minnesota native to be at TCU
(as told to Lily Margaret Greenway)
One of my biggest motivations is being under-recruited out of high school. I knew the player I wanted to be, but it took people some time to see it. I had to prove who I am and what I can do. No matter where you are in your situation, keep going and try to get better every day. It might take one day or one week, but as long as you keep working, your opportunity will come.
I didn't talk to TCU until a week or two before I ended up moving here. The coaches were straightforward with me and didn't have to sell me on much. They knew I had things to offer, and I knew TCU was a great fit. TCU chose me, so it is my job to represent them and play hard for the school, my family and myself.
I left the junior college I had played at for two seasons and enrolled early at TCU so I could play spring ball and have the whole spring to get used to the defense. It was big for me to play Power 5 football for the first timer. Once I got here, playing football became more professional. We are locked in and focused on working every day. I am a hard worker. I tend to keep to myself in my own world, but when I play, I come in ready to do what I have to do.
Along with having strong morals, my faith and family mean the most to me. People come and go all throughout life, but I know my family has always been and will continue to be there for me. We have a strong relationship, and I can truly be myself talking to them. My mom has done everything in her power to get me a better life. She paid for training sessions, signed me up for camps, and made sure I experienced a lot of different things growing up. I want to be able to take care of my family, because they helped me get to where I am today.
I wear No. 4 on the field, but it's really my whole family's number. My mom and dad have four kids, and I have a twin sister. Three of us were born in April, the fourth month of the year, and the fourth was born in August – four months after April. My siblings and I all have tattoos of the Roman Numeral for four. And I live with my dog, Cuatro, whose name means "four" in Spanish.
I prayed to be here at TCU, but I keep my humility, because it can all be taken away. My teammates push me to be better, and in this competitive environment, seeing them work hard makes me want to work hard. Growing up, I was mentored by Tyrone Carter, who played in the NFL. He led me in some camps and training sessions up in Minnesota, and afterwards he would get me food and we would drive around together. He put me down the right path. Now, I'm studying child education, and I either want to be a football coach or a personal trainer for younger kids in middle school and high school. When you're young, you don't know right from wrong a lot, but I can teach them, both physically and mentally. I believe that would mean a lot.
One of my biggest motivations is being under-recruited out of high school. I knew the player I wanted to be, but it took people some time to see it. I had to prove who I am and what I can do. No matter where you are in your situation, keep going and try to get better every day. It might take one day or one week, but as long as you keep working, your opportunity will come.
I didn't talk to TCU until a week or two before I ended up moving here. The coaches were straightforward with me and didn't have to sell me on much. They knew I had things to offer, and I knew TCU was a great fit. TCU chose me, so it is my job to represent them and play hard for the school, my family and myself.
I left the junior college I had played at for two seasons and enrolled early at TCU so I could play spring ball and have the whole spring to get used to the defense. It was big for me to play Power 5 football for the first timer. Once I got here, playing football became more professional. We are locked in and focused on working every day. I am a hard worker. I tend to keep to myself in my own world, but when I play, I come in ready to do what I have to do.
Along with having strong morals, my faith and family mean the most to me. People come and go all throughout life, but I know my family has always been and will continue to be there for me. We have a strong relationship, and I can truly be myself talking to them. My mom has done everything in her power to get me a better life. She paid for training sessions, signed me up for camps, and made sure I experienced a lot of different things growing up. I want to be able to take care of my family, because they helped me get to where I am today.
I wear No. 4 on the field, but it's really my whole family's number. My mom and dad have four kids, and I have a twin sister. Three of us were born in April, the fourth month of the year, and the fourth was born in August – four months after April. My siblings and I all have tattoos of the Roman Numeral for four. And I live with my dog, Cuatro, whose name means "four" in Spanish.
I prayed to be here at TCU, but I keep my humility, because it can all be taken away. My teammates push me to be better, and in this competitive environment, seeing them work hard makes me want to work hard. Growing up, I was mentored by Tyrone Carter, who played in the NFL. He led me in some camps and training sessions up in Minnesota, and afterwards he would get me food and we would drive around together. He put me down the right path. Now, I'm studying child education, and I either want to be a football coach or a personal trainer for younger kids in middle school and high school. When you're young, you don't know right from wrong a lot, but I can teach them, both physically and mentally. I believe that would mean a lot.
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