Under The Helmet: Esezi Otomewo

Dating back to his redshirt freshman season in 2018, defensive lineman Esezi Otomewo has appeared in all 30 games for the Gophers during the previous three seasons. During that time, the Indianapolis native has totaled 46 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Although Otomewo's most recent sack came in Minnesota's Nov. 7 victory against Illinois, it is not the one he remembers the best. That title – the one for the most memorable sack of his career – is reserved for another game. Otomewo breaks down the signature sack of his career and more as we go under the helmet with the emerging redshirt junior.

GopherSports: How have you grown as a pass rusher since last season?
Esezi Otomewo: With Coach Wilt, he really helped me attack the set line. Really working on moves off of my set line. He just helped me work on my first few steps, fundamentals, techniques, my details have been better, definitely on third down and on first and second down. Just attacking the set line and after that, growing every day and learning from Coach Wilt.

GS: What improvements have you seen the Gopher defense make the past few weekends?
EO: Coming into the film room and taking coaching and learning from the coaches. Attacking the field with a sense of urgency after that. Playing hard and going out there for your brothers. That's definitely what I see every day in practice and on game day, with that locked-in focus.

GS: What's the most useless talent you have?
EO: If I'm on the ground, I can pop up without using my hands. Have you ever seen that Jackie Chan movie where they just pop up off their backs off the ground? That's my useless skill… Another hidden talent I would actually like to hit on: I like to play chess. I'm a really good chess player. Being strategic and stuff, you have to think two steps ahead of your opponent.

GS: What is the most memorable sack of your entire football career?
EO: Definitely the Penn State game sack. That was electrifying. We had an odd-man front and I just remember, once I got the sack close to the goal line, just looking up into the stands and everybody was yelling and jumping. I turned to my left and my right, Tai'yon Devers and Boye Mafe were right there. I'll remember that forever. That was probably the best memory I could possibly ever have, other than the Wisconsin game.

GS: Do you have anything planned for your next sack celebration?
EO: I might draw a door and then kick it down.

GS: Which teammate has the most outrageous sack celebrations?
EO: DeAngelo Carter. If you saw him this weekend, he came out, palms open, running to the sideline, looking at the D-line. He's definitely a character. His personality is fun to be around. I might have to hit him up right after this.

GS: What is something interesting about yourself that most people might not know?
EO: I love basketball. I love playing basketball. Boye and I are really competitive, playing basketball back and forth. Just that competitive nature. People who don't know me, I'm very competitive in everything I do.

GS: Where would be the first place you would take someone visiting Indianapolis?
EO: I'd probably take them to Sub Zero. It's this ice cream spot downtown. It's just like Coldstone, but I think it's better. It's got everything you need: Oreos, brownies… all different kinds of ice cream.

GS: What is your favorite thing about playing for Coach Fleck?
EO: My favorite thing is definitely his pre-game speeches. His speeches are electrifying. If you're in there after he's done talking to you before running out that tunnel, he'll have you so pumped up you'd be ready to run through a door. That's my favorite memory with Coach Fleck: every single time when it comes to game day. Him giving us that confidence to go out there every game day and go play for our brothers to our right and left.

GS: If you had to be one teammate for a day, who would it be and why?
EO: Mark Crawford, our punter. Something about him is just different. He moves different. He has that smile on his face. Every single time you see him, he's always joyful. He's always carrying himself a certain way and he loves his teammates. He's just electrifying. You'll feel the energy from him.

GS: Do you model your style after any professional defensive linemen?
EO: Calais Campbell and Khalil Mack. The power and aggression off their take-offs, coming off the line, especially with their one-arm stabs, pursuing the quarterback, their game is disruptive and I want to model my game after that.

GS: What's on your pre-game playlist?
EO: Lil Baby, for sure. Lil Durk. I'm really just into trends, right now. Savage Mode II by 21 Savage, definitely have to listen to it.

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Players Mentioned

Trill Carter

Mark Crawford

Tai'yon Devers

Boye Mafe

Esezi Otomewo