Ukwuani seeks to honor name through faith and football

Daberechi Ukwuani's name carries a lot of weight. In Igbo, one of the languages spoken in Daberechi's native Nigeria, the moniker means "lean on God." Every day, Ukwuani thinks about that name, seeking to honor it through faith, family, community and even football.

"My parents gave me that name, so it's something I have to live up to," said Ukwuani, a rising senior star from Magruder, who played offensive and defensive line last year. "It's not always easy … but I try my best every day."

Ukwuani, a devout Christian, doesn't force his faith on anyone. But he does show others, namely his teammates at Magruder, how to live humbly and in service of others. He refrains from bragging about his physical gifts, participates in community outreach and makes a point to keep a positive, upbeat attitude.

"He always has a smile; there's never any negativity with him at all," said Magruder coach Shawn Prather. "He wants to be a leader for his teammates and the community."

On the football field, Ukwuani has, naturally, adopted the "lead by example" mentality. Whether he's rushing the passer on Friday night or pounding out three-hour workouts in the weight room, Ukwuani has demonstrated that hard work is indeed a virtue. He has personally built himself into a 6-foot-3, 230-pound specimen with the potential to earn a Division I scholarship.

"I saw that not a lot of people were willing to work hard this offseason, so I decided to get in the weight room and show others what hard work will do for you," Ukwuani said. "Since then we've had other people come in because they saw me getting bigger and getting ready for the season."

Perhaps more significantly, Ukwuani has set a standard for classroom excellence. He carries an un-weighted 3.72 GPA, but with his honors and AP courses it's above a 4.0.

For Ukwuani, academics are just another way to honor his name -- and the two people who bestowed it on him.

"My parents always taught me that school is first," Ukwuani said. "They told me if I wanted to go to college, they couldn't afford it so I would have to get a scholarship. Academics is something I can control and it's the best way for me to get there."

He probably shouldn't count out athletics, however. With his size and explosive first step, Ukwuani is drawing interest from several Division I-AA schools and Ivy League schools like Harvard, Brown and Pennsylvania.

"Academically he can go anywhere, and that's why I've been talking to him about the Ivy schools," Prather said. "I'm preaching that some people have athletic ability and some people have smarts. He has a little of both and he can take advantage of that by going to the Ivy League."

Ukwuani's talent is "definitely" at the Ivy League level, according to Prather. But despite his obvious physical gifts, which he parlayed into 38 tackles, three sacks and numerous pancake blocks last year, Ukwuani would rather focus on his intangible assets. He takes pride in his quiet, yet intense gameday demeanor.

"I don't need to talk out there - my play on the field says it all," Ukwuani said. "I make it a point to go hard every play, even when we're down in the fourth quarter and the game looks like it's over."

During the Paint Branch game last year, which Magruder lost 28-7, Ukwuani recorded a fourth quarter sack with the outcome all but decided. The Paint Branch quarterback rolled out, away from Ukwuani's side. But Ukwuani sprinted across the field, dove at the scrambling signal caller and tripped him up behind the line.

"When we lacked intensity and needed plays late, Dab made a play for us," Prather said. "He goes all-out all the time for the team."

Prather can't expect much more from one of his players. Ukwuani is dedicated, a leader in his own way and intelligent. It's all part of upholding his momentous name.

But while Prather appreciates everything Ukwuani stands for, he admits there are areas where his young star must improve.

In a sport like football, Ukwuani needs to show a little more emotion and "get a little meaner out there," according to the coach. In other words, he lacks that rush of adrenaline that can inspire a defense.

"I'm just a nice guy," Ukwuani said. "But I do have to have more of a mean streak."

Ukwuani is also in danger of earning that humiliating "all book smarts, no football smarts" label. There have been moments where Ukwuani fell victim to play-action fakes because he overanalyzed the situation. He recalls one play where a running back blew right by him because he anticipated a pass instead of a run.

"I always tell him you're too much of a thinker, not a reactor," Prather said. "He's got a lot of brains in him, but he needs that football common sense."

Most importantly, Ukwuani needs to bulk up, especially if he has aspirations of playing in Ivy League school or a Division I-AA school. He's currently bench-pressing 280 pounds, which isn't ideal for a lineman. On top of that, he's about 35 pounds too light.

"I recently went to my coach's alma mater, Millersville in Pennsylvania, which is a Division II school," Ukwuani said. "And even those guys were way bigger than me. I knew after that I couldn't even get to a small D-I school without gaining weight. That's why I am in the weight room now."

All of these self-imposed criticisms are justifiable considering Ukwuani just started playing football three years ago. What he's accomplished in just two years of varsity football -- from novice to potential top prospect -- is not insignificant.

"What he's learned so far has been phenomenal," Prather said. "He wants to get better, he wants to be a great player and he's worked to get there. Plus he's a great teammate, a motivator, a positive influence in the community and he works hard in the classroom. There's not much more you can ask as a coach."

No, there's not. And for Ukwuani, there's no better way to "lean on God."