LINCOLN — Five years later, there’s a special kind of football player in Oregon. Portland, even. A defensive star with a doozy of a name, an African-born parent, and he wants a closer look at Nebraska.

This weekend, as Ndamukong Suh plays his last game at Memorial Stadium, Owamagbe Odighizuwa, a 6-foot-3, 247-pound defensive end, headlines a group of prospects set to watch the Huskers host Kansas State on Senior Day.

His name is pronounced oh-a-MAH-bay oh-dee-ga-ZOO-a. People call him Owa.

Odighizuwa ranks as the top high school player at his position nationally. He’s considering Nebraska in addition to offers from Oregon, Oregon State, Southern California, UCLA, Cal and Florida.

How did the Huskers get him to visit?

“He’s not a bling, bling guy,” said Dan Wood, Odighizuwa’s coach at David Douglas High School. “He’s a people person. His decision is going to be based on who he’s going to battle with every week and who he’s battling for. That’s much more important to Owa than any facility or history of national championships.”

NU coach Bo Pelini and assistant John Papuchis have made quite an impression on Odighizuwa, Wood said.

“When you connect with him as a person, it far exceeds any impact of the bling,” Wood said. “He has connected with them, and that is what’s really sold him to this point.”

The parallels with Suh, who graduated in 2005 from Portland’s Grant High School, are mere coincidence.

Odighizuwa’s Nigerian-born mother is raising four boys. Suh’s father, Michael, was born in Cameroon.

They seem to share more.

Wood calls Odighizuwa “the most explosive, relentless defensive player I’ve ever coached.”

“He is so quick and explosive off the ball,” the coach said. “And he does not take plays off. He never gives up. He has such a motor and plays the game the right way.”

Odighizuwa had 84 tackles and 13 sacks as a senior in 10 games.

More than his playing ability, Wood praises his character.

“His integrity is impeccable,” the coach said. “If you look up the phrase ‘Do the right thing’ in the dictionary, you’ll see his picture.”

Suh has built a similar reputation. He turned down potential millions to play another season at NU and earn his degree.

No doubt, Odighizuwa will cross paths with Suh this weekend. “I think he recognizes that (Suh) has been highly successful,” Wood said.

Others set to visit include NU quarterback commit Tyler Gabbert of Ballwin, Mo., and fellow pledge Tyler Evans of Waverly, Neb.; cornerback Jonathan Mack of Compton, Calif.; and three players from Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College: offensive lineman Jermarcus Hardrick, linebacker Lavonte David and defensive tackle Anthony White.

Hardrick is committed to Louisiana State.

Odighizuwa has said he plans to announce his college choice in January at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Contact the writer:

402-444-1031, mitch.sherman@owh.com