Junior defensive end Michael Ononibaku received quite the holiday gift on Thanksgiving Day.
A phone call from a fellow teammate informed him that he and two other Hoyas were named to the 2004 All-Patriot League Teams. Ononibaku was selected to the first team, while junior safety aurice Banks and sophomore defensive end Alex Buzbee were chosen for the second team.
“That made my Thanksgiving,” Ononibaku, who was selected to the second team last year, said.
Ononibaku’s 1.68 tackles for loss per game ranked first in the league and eighth in the country. He tallied a total of 18.5 tackles for loss on the season, as well as 64 tackles.
Ononibaku and Buzbee tied for the league lead in total sacks with 10.5, putting them in eighth place nationally. Ononibaku’s 20.5 career sacks rank fifth in Georgetown history and 16th all-time in the league.
Banks and Buzbee earned All-Patriot League honors for the first time in both of their careers.
“They’re very hard workers,” Ononibaku said. “They’re always watching film and in the weight room. . I’m proud of them.”
Banks led the Hoyas in interceptions with four, tying him for third in the league. His 53 tackles put his career total at 109.
“Mo Banks is tremendous,” Benson said. “He’s the leader of the defense.”
Buzbee has quickly emerged as a key player on Georgetown’s defense. In addition to his nationally-ranked 10.5 total sacks this season, he totaled 12.5 tackles for loss, putting him at fourth in the league, and 39 tackles.
“All three of these guys are just tremendous examples of what the student-athlete at Georgetown should be,” Benson said.
Although three selections to the All-Patriot League team is an impressive total, some talented Hoyas were overlooked. The snubbing of junior running back Kim Sarin, who is the first Hoya to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season, was surprising.
“We have a lot more players that should have been chosen,” Ononibaku said.
With the three league honorees coming from the defense side, the defense will be expected to lead the Hoyas next season.
“We’ve got everybody back on defense except for one,” Benson said. “We will build the nucleus for next year based on the defense and these three guys.”
