After finally having an offseason where injuries were put behind him and his only focus was on his physique and football, Levi Onwuzurike looks and feels like a different man.
“After practice on Sunday, I feel like a different man,” he declared. I am obviously much heavier. Undoubtedly, I feel like a different guy. I simply feel polished.”
Due to his total recovery from the back ailment that almost terminated his career during his first two seasons in the NFL, Onwuzurike was able to put on 20 pounds of muscle this offseason. He now weighs 305 pounds, up from 285 pounds the previous year. With his play, Onwuzurike has emerged as one of the camp’s biggest stories, so it’s clear that he has gained muscle during training camp.
When it comes to the extra muscle, Onwuzurike remarked, “the best way I can describe it is stability.” “On the pitch, I feel powerful. On the field, I feel quick. I can do everything my body wants me to.”
Onwuzurike has been disruptive throughout camp as we’ve watched him play both inside and even shift out to the big end. As a very versatile squad up front, players like Aidan Hutchinson, DJ Reader, Marcus Davenport, Alim McNeill, and Onwuzurike have the potential to be very disruptive and powerful. This excites the Lions.
Onwuzurike’s perception of being unique
With the variety of personnel packages he can use, defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn may find great advantages in Onwuzurike’s adaptability. Because he can use some edge techniques to his rush from the three-technique and vice versa, Onwuzurike explained that he enjoys playing both locations. Not only does he still appear to possess the fast first step that made him a second-round pick in 2021, but he also has the strength and size to contribute more inside.
“When you talk about that (2021) draft, and you talk about Penei (Sewell) and you talk about (Amon-Ra) St. Brown and Alim McNeill and all that, but I think Levi is a great example of patience and now he looks great out here,” Lions general manager Brad Holmes told detroitlions.com earlier in the Onwuzurike camp. “Levi, to me, there’s so much patience that had to be practiced with this whole build,”
“He has been a role model for courage, perseverance, overcoming adversity, and overcoming all that he has faced. Because of all the health issues and other things, you almost forget about him. Though he still needs to demonstrate his abilities on the field, the thought of all he has been through and its significance, as well as the true nature of our foundation, almost makes me cry.”
Relevant Websites
Leave a Reply