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Obum Gwacham's on-the-field production at defensive end linking up with off-the-field impact for Oregon State Beavers [The Oregonian, Portland, Ore.](Oregonian (Portland, OR) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Oct. 10--CORVALLIS -- A smile crossed Brent Brennan's face. Under the shades shielding him from the sun beaming down on the Prothro Practice Fields, the Oregon State receivers coach's eyes were surely lighting up. That may seem like a peculiar reaction as Brennan chatted about a player who, technically, failed as a member of his position group. But Obum Gwacham is different. Gwacham has always been easy to like. He possesses a diligent work ethic and joyful personality that make his mother, Caroline, proud. He has utilized the complete student-athlete experience, taking leadership roles in clubs within OSU's business school and visiting the Dominican Republic for an intensive service project. Now -- no, finally -- Gwacham's on-the-field production is linking up with his off-the-field impact. A senior-season switch from big-bodied receiver to nimble defensive end has worked out brilliantly. Four sacks in five games, currently tied for sixth in the Pac-12. First career start against Colorado last week. A chance to unleash his speed and athleticism on opposing offensive linemen, rather than struggle to haul in passes from quarterback Sean Mannion. Gwacham's late surge has perhaps been OSU's biggest feel-good story in 2014. That's why Brennan can't help but smile. "He's such a great human being," Brennan said. "All you ever wanted was for him to be successful on the field, because he wanted that so bad. So this is awesome, you know? "And I want it to be better. I want him to play better, just to keep growing and keep getting better." The move Long before Gwacham knew what football was -- "well, what American football was," he clarified -- he went to bed as a 7-year-old inside a packed-up house in his native country of Nigeria. Around 4 or 5 the next morning, he boarded a bus with parents Caroline and Edwin, and siblings Nnamdi, Adaobi, Chiko and Ifu. Then they boarded a plane. Then they arrived at Los Angeles International Airport. "I had no idea what was going on," Gwacham recalled. "And then the next thing I knew, we were at LAX. My aunt was there. That's when they told us, 'We're moving. We're living in a new place now.' " Gwacham's family had won the America Diversity Visa Lottery program, allowing them to immigrate to the United States. The family of 7 first lived with Caroline's sister, before moving into an apartment in Chino Hills. "God make it work," said Caroline, still sporting a strong accent not present in Obum. "I say to myself, 'You know what? We gonna move ... I want to give my kids a good life.' " Though Gwacham was suddenly surrounded by a new culture, he does not remember any harsh adjustments. The first and only thing that popped into his mind? Getting in trouble for eating an apple on the playground at his new school, something he did all the time back in Nigeria. And Gwacham was already developing athleticism. Caroline remembers that when others would walk, Obum would run. He started playing soccer, the most popular sport in Nigeria. Dad loved basketball. When he entered high school, Gwacham was finally allowed to play football. Though he was a "skinny kid" back then, Gwaham was already sprouting to his eventual height of 6-foot-5. So he was always a receiver and sometimes a cornerback -- "hard to imagine," Gwacham acknowledges today with a smile -- when the opponent boasted a tall receiver who needed covering. Gwacham also excelled in track, clearing 6-foot-10 in the high jump and 48 feet in the triple jump in 2008. He drew interest from smaller schools like Idaho State and Montana State, before taking OSU's offer to grayshirt and join the program in 2010. Yet his first four years on campus were largely defined by oodles of potential but unfulfilled results. There was the nagging ankle injury in 2012. The slew of dropped passes against Washington that same season. The missed opportunity to secure the starting split end spot during a forgettable performance against Eastern Washington in the 2013 opener. By the end of last season, Gwacham primary role as a fourth-year junior was on special teams. Though Obum would never let any sadness or anger seep to the forefront, Caroline remembers her mother's intuition telling her "he wasn't Obum" when she visited for a game last year. But on the spring 2014 depth chart, Gwacham had a new home. Defensive end. "I thought the biggest turnaround was when I decided, 'You know what? This isn't about me anymore. It's about the team,' " Gwacham said. "I started playing more special teams, next thing I know I'm playing defensive end. "This could be my last year ever suiting up and playing football. This move was all for the team. Anything I can do to help our team win, that's what I'm willing to do." The switch In reality, Beavers defensive line coach Joe Seumalo and Brennan had long kicked around the idea of moving Gwacham to defensive end. But one late night last fall, Brennan was pondering how Gwacham had gotten buried on the depth chart. Seumalo walked by Brennan's office. "Hey, what about taking 'Bum in the spring?" Brennan asked Seumalo. "Yeah, let's do it," Seumalo replied. Brennan and Seumalo ran it by head coach Mike Riley, who called it "one of the easiest transitions I've ever made in a position switch" because of Gwacham's eagerness to oblige. "I just told 'Bum the line is shorter here than playing receiver," Seumalo said. "If you love playing the game, then it won't matter what position you play. He thought about it and said, 'Let's go.' " Gwacham bulked up his frame to play in the trenches, gaining nearly 20 pounds of muscle during the offseason. His physicality and natural knack for pass rushing clearly impressed Riley and defensive coordinator Mark Banker during the spring and fall camp. But those coaches always stopped themselves from heaping on too much praise before Gwacham actually played the position in a game. Well, then came the games. Two sacks against Hawaii, which could have been three if not for a penalty that nullified another quarterback takedown. One against San Diego State. Another against USC. Gwacham has focused on using his speed and getting his hands inside to fend off offensive linemen. Teammate Dylan Wynn isn't surprised at Gwacham's early success, because the reactionary nature of defensive end "grants him that ability to not use the 'T' word (think) and just get moving and making plays." Seumalo goes even further. He expected all of this from Gwacham. That's why he always wanted him on defense. "Yeah, why not?" Seumalo said. "The kid's athletic. He's smart. He loves to work hard ... He loves the competitiveness of it. It's fun to coach guys like that ... guys that just love to work hard and listen. " The student-athlete Caroline got to see her son play defensive end for the first time when the Beavers visited USC two weeks ago. The game brought peace of mind that the coaches knew best after all. But what she'll remember most is what happened after the contest. As she walked the concourse at the Coliseum, a woman Caroline did not know turned around and stopped her. The woman enthusiastically asked Caroline if she was Gwacham's mom. "She just gives me a hug," Caroline said. Caroline takes that display of excitement as evidence Obum has carried on the character traits she tried to instill in him. Respect everybody. Be kind. Always try again. Laugh, don't yell. "Obum is such a light," she said. "He wants joy all the time." And those qualities apply to plenty of other areas besides football. Gwacham is part of the invite-only Dean's Student Leadership Circle at the business school, described on the organization's website as "a group of select students chosen to help shape and enrich the programs of the College of Business." He served as the marketing club's media specialist and has taken part in business roundtables in Portland. He's been known to take 18 or 19 credit hours in a term, because a jam-packed schedule actually keeps him more organized and focused. He went with the Beavers Without Borders program to the Dominican Republic, where athletes from a variety of sports helped build an irrigation system at a local school and pulled weeds from a yucca farm. Once his football career is over, Gwacham sees himself getting involved in sports marketing. "You only do college once, so I'm trying to dive into as many things as I can," he said. "I try to tell a lot of our guys, 'You know what? You don't have to be just a football player. You can go out and join different clubs and see what else is out there.' " It's the type of life Caroline envisioned for Obum when they left Nigeria. Though Gwacham's father, Edwin, goes back to visit three or four times per year, Obum has never returned. The family recently proposed a big trip for December, but Gwacham has already suggested postponing. If things go according to plan, after all, the Beavers will be preparing for a bowl game in December, with Gwacham as a prominent contributor. That would only continue to make Brennan smile, because it would mean the on-field success -- even if it's not with his position group -- has continued to match all the rest of what makes Obum Gwacham. "Lots of times there's such a stereotype attached to football players, and he's not anything like that," Brennan said. "He's a good student. He makes good decisions. He's a great guy. He's a good player. He does it right all the time. He's just awesome. He's really what you want every kid in your program to be like. "He's got a great story, and his story is growing every day." -- Gina Mizell -- @ginamizell ___ (c)2014 The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.) Visit The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.) at www.oregonian.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |