Hard-hitting SMU transfer safety Onu battling to start

BOULDER» Big-hitting safety Mikial Onu had to grow into his role.

Colorado’s graduate transfer from Southern Methodist University used to be a cornerback and receiver, and finesse football was his thing. But to get onto the field at SMU, Onu realized he had to be much more physical.

“My old coaches at SMU needed a safety, and it was either you hit somebody or you don’t play,” Onu said Wednesday. “Now, every day I try to hit the tackling sled, and sometimes twice if that’s not in the practice. I like the hard work of being a better tackler.”

Onu led SMU with 105 tackles (85 solo) as a sophomore in 2017. Last fall he 59 tackles (41) after recovering from sports hernia surgery during the offseason.

He joined CU in July, after the spring depth chart was released, and is now eyeing a starting spot in a woefully inexperienced Buffs secondary.

“I’ve taken a lot of reps, especially this week, with the ones,” Onu said. “But we’ll see when the first game comes, who he throws out there. We’ll be competing throughout the season, every practice, so nothing is ever set in stone.”

At 5-foot-11, 205 pounds, Onu comes from a family of cornerbacks. Cousin Quandre Diggs plays the position for the Detroit Lions, and another cousin, cornerback Quentin Jammer, completed a 12-year NFL career with the Broncos in 2013.

Onu said he transferred to Colorado because of new coach Mel Tucker and defensive coordinator/safeties coach Tyson Summers and their reputation of developing secondary players.

“Coach Tuck, Coach Summers, I feel like these are two of the best defensive back coaches in the nation, across all levels — NFL included,” said Onu, whose SMU team went 5-7 last year.

“For my development, that was the biggest thing. And I also believe in this team. I believe we have a really good chance to go really far, and this being my last year, I wanted to be part of a culture like this — a winning team. They made it apparent to me that they’re heading in the right direction, and I wanted to be part of it.”

In his first year of playing football outside Texas, Onu is enjoying his new surroundings. But he doesn’t like to drive all the way to Superior for the nearest Chick-fil-A.

“I’m used to name-brand, big-city stuff,” he said. “The nearest Chick-fil-A is like 15 minutes away. It’s brutal, because that’s my favorite place.

“But everything has been great, fast-paced with a lot of detail, and very intense. Coach Tucker has made sure we’re homed in and very focused every day in walkthroughs, practices, meetings and other kinds of stuff. The culture adjustment is the biggest thing from (SMU).”