*Alfonso Onunwor at Idaho (via govandals.com)*

Dreams are made, stars are born and hundreds of young men receive their first official job out of college all in one weekend with the NFL Draft. This year’s NFL Draft is star-studded with no sure pick of who’s going to be selected #1 overall. As most sports fans are familiar with this year’s top prospects, the biggest thrill isn’t always in the first, second or even third round. The most heartfelt stories, the truest tests of adversity and persistence often come later in the weekend where the kids that are left out of the conversation for the “best” in the draft get a chance to live their dream and work their way up the professional ladder from the bottom. For wide receiver, Alfonso Onunwor, getting selected by a team gives him another opportunity to work his way up and prove himself on the highest stage.

Born in Cleveland, OH where Onunwor attended Brush High School and received all-state honorable mention honors, his path to this point is something he’s always dreamed of and feels primed for.

“It’s something that we all prepare since we were kids. It’s the dream that we all shoot for. It’s kind of surreal. Really sitting down and actually thinking about it, it’s really a surreal moment and I can’t wait to see who’s interested,” Onunwor says.

Even though the moment of truth is here and he’s prepared, getting to this point was no cakewalk for the 6’0" 203-pound pass catcher.

*Onunwor at Coffeyville Community College (via hudl.com)*

Due to what he says was a “lack of focus” in high school, Onunwor was recruited by Division 1 programs, but unable to attend right away because of performance in the classroom. His dream of making it to the league didn’t become a lost one, just a deterred one as he’d have to take the Junior College route, attending Coffeyville Community College in Kansas to get on track in order to attend a D1 school.

“I just felt more comfortable. You know, growing up in Cleveland, big city with a decent size and then me going to JUCO, that really helped my train of thought. It broadened me as far as connections, my future, football and the classroom.”

Taking that route and sacrificing those 2 years in Coffeyville proved to be the right decision as Onunwor was able to ball out and have a stellar career finishing with 75 receptions earning him honorable mention all-Jayhawk Conference recognition, 906 receiving yards and he tied for ninth nationally with 10 touchdown catches.

When his JUCO tenure ended, it was back to D1 dreaming as he signed to play with the Idaho Vandals in the Sunbelt Conference.

“It [choosing Idaho] was pretty simple for me. It gave off the same vibe as Coffeyville as far as the team chemistry and the coaches were a very honest bunch. They would explain the business side and wouldn’t sugarcoat anything. Coach Petrino is a good guy. They just made it feel like home when I was out there, honestly. I like the smaller scale towns for college, I don’t know why,” he laughs.

In 2 years, Onunwor’s impact was felt as he finished his college career at Idaho with 103 receptions, 1,259 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns.

With a semester of school remaining, Onunwor returned home to Cleveland to begin the workout process to get ready for the draft, while still taking classes online to finish earn his degree in May. The workout and scouting phase is a long one extending from January to April and coming from a small market school without a household name, it’s been a non-stop hustle for Onunwor to get seen to display his talents and put himself in position to get the best look possible to play at the next level.

“I had my 2nd pro day at Akron and 1st at Idaho and did local pro day at Browns facility. Coming from a small market I have to get in front of as many coaches as I can.”

Considering himself as an underrated talent in this year’s draft, Onunwor wants nothing more than an opportunity to prove himself and get what all athletes dream of - a shot. Not truly knowing where he’s going to be selected, the mystery remains unsolved and where some prospects may be nervous around this time, that’s not his case.

“I’m definitely anxious. I’m ready to prove myself. I’ve been underrated my whole life and I’m ready to show them who I really am,” Onunwor says.

Onunwor’s road to this point has been one of true determination, fighting all obstacles that have stood in his way. It’s a road that he admits he didn’t get through alone, so during draft weekend, while he awaits his destiny, he’ll be with the people he says helped get him through this whole process: his brother, mom, dad and grandmother. And just as they’ve provided him guidance, Onunwor knows he’s not the first, last, or only player to travel this same path to achieve this dream, but for those that get to learn his story and want to know how he made it this far, he wants them to know that it’s a slow grind.

“It doesn’t matter how long it takes as long as you get there. Everybody’s road is going to be different and you just got to believe in yourself no matter what type of hardships you go through. Any adversity, you’ve got to power through. You have to have your short term goals and long term goals, what you want to get done on the field and in the classroom and if you stick to that, you’ll be good. Stay humble, keep grinding and pay attention to detail. Detail, detail, detail,” he says.

Draft day is a new beginning and an anxious time, Onunwor is ready though. Ready to see where he ends up; whether it’s drafted, undrafted or a free agent. Just to start that grind all over again as a rookie in his new chapter of life.

- Aric

Draft Dreaming