For most Georgetown football players, their days on the gridiron come to an end when they depart from the Hilltop, but for senior defensive end Michael Ononibaku hopes that graduation signals a transition from student-athlete to professional athlete. The 2006 recipient of Georgetown’s Robert A. Duffy Scholar-Athlete award was one of over 100 undrafted rookies to receive an invitation to Washington Redskins rookie camp following the completion of the April 29 NFL Draft. The camp ran from Friday, May 5 through Sunday, May 7, and was highlighted both by the most recent crop of Redskins draft choices and by undrafted rookies hoping to jump on with the team. “The camp – it was wild; it was crazy,” Ononibaku said. “It was a wild experience. I definitely realized I was not at Georgetown anymore. It was really competitive, and you need to find a way to standout because everyone there is a great player. Everything there is magnified so much more.” The camp began with over 100 players and was led by Head Coach Joe Gibbs, Assistant Head Coach for Defense Gregg Williams, and Assistant Head Coach for Offense Al Saunders. After the first day, the group was cut to approximately 60, a group that Ononibaku was not fortunate enough to be a part of. Still, according to Ononibaku, he still has hopes of joining the Redskins. “Sometimes people sign within a couple weeks,” he said, “but others sign later in the month . So I’m still waiting to hear back from them.” According to the Redskins’ media relations office, the team had 11 spots open to rookies following the draft. Eight players were signed immediately, but three of them were cut and seven new plays were added following the rookie camp. Unless other rookies are cut, the chances of Ononibaku catching on with the team are minimal, Redskins spokesperson Will Norman said. If Ononibaku doesn’t sign with Washington before the 2006 season, he plans to pursue other professional opportunities, including the Canadian Football League. The CFL has provided a springboard to the NFL for a number of well-known professionals including former Buffalo Bills quarterback Doug Flutie. In preparation for a professional career, whether it be in the NFL or elsewhere, Ononibaku has retained sports agent Jeff Jankovich, who also represents George Mason basketball star-turned NFL hopeful Jai Lewis. “[Signing an agent] is definitely a new process. For someone who represents you on your behalf, you have to put a lot of trust in him. You need some who will work hard for you,” Ononibaku said. Jenkovich did not return THE HOYA’s phone calls. Ononibaku finished his four years at Georgetown as one of the most successful players in recent memory. He recorded 81 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and 15.5 tackles for a loss during his senior season, en route to being named a Division I-AA all-American by the American Football Coaches Association. His 29 career sacks were 2.5 short of Janne Kouri’s (MSB ’97) school record, set from 1993-6 while the Hoyas were still a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Ononibaku was first team all-Patriot League as both a junior and a senior. “Michael’s story epitomizes what the story of the student athlete should be about,” former Georgetown Head Coach Bob Benson said. “He is just everything that Georgetown University should be proud of. He is a first-class human being with a tremendous work ethic. Regardless [of whether he signs with the Redskins], we should be proud of him.” No matter where he ends up, the 6-foot-1, 235 pound Ononibaku is excited about the future. “It’s been up and down,” he said of trying to catch on professionally. “It’s exciting but it is also nerve-racking because you don’t know where you’ll end up. But, it’s exciting because you get to pursue your dreams.”