2016-17 Football Roster

#17 James Onwualu 2015-16 Football Roster

Linebacker


Height 6'1''
Weight 220 lbs.
Class Sophomore
Hometown Saint Paul, MN
High School Cretin-Derham Hall
James Onwualu - Football - Notre Dame Fighting Irish

JAMES ONWUALU’S CAREER HIGHS:

Receptions: 1, 2x, last at Stanford, Nov. 30, 2013

Receiving yards: 23, at Pittsburgh, Nov. 9, 2013 (1 reception)

Long reception: 23, at Pittsburgh, Nov. 9, 2013

All-purpose yards: 23, at Pittsburgh, Nov. 9, 2013

Punt returns: 1, Michigan, Sept. 6, 2014

Punt return yards: 6, Michigan, Sept. 6, 2014 (1 return)

Long punt return: 6, Michigan, Sept. 6, 2014

Tackles: 7, 2x, last vs. USC, Oct. 17, 2015 (4-3)

Sacks: 1.0, 3x, last vs. Ohio State, Jan. 1, 2016 (1-0)

Tackles for loss: 2.0, 2x, last vs. UMass, Sept. 26, 2015 (2-0)

Fumbles forced: 1, vs. Georgia Tech, Sept. 19, 2015

Pass breakups: 1, 2x, last vs. USC, Oct. 17, 2015

JUNIOR SEASON (2015): Played in 11 games and started nine contests (did not start vs. option-based offenses in Georgia Tech and Navy) … missed contests against Boston College and Stanford with a knee injury … recorded 38 tackles, 21 solo stops, six tackles for loss, three sacks, two pass breakups and one forced fumble on the season … registered three tackles apiece in starts vs. Texas (Sept. 5) and Virginia (Sept. 12) … despite playing in a sub-package role vs. Georgia Tech (Sept. 19), collected four tackles, one for loss and one forced fumble … had four tackles, two for loss and a pass breakup against UMass (Sept. 26) … recorded four tackles in back-to-back games against Clemson (Oct. 3) and Navy (Oct. 10) … equaled his career high with seven tackles, four solo, and picked up a pass breakup in the win over USC (Oct. 17) … returned to the starting lineup vs. Ohio State (Jan. 1) following a knee injury … registered two tackles, one for loss and a sack against the Buckeyes.

SOPHOMORE SEASON (2014): Played in all 13 games and started eight contests (Rice, Purdue, Stanford, North Carolina, Northwestern, Louisville, USC and No. 22 LSU) when Notre Dame opened with a 4-3 defense … recorded 24 tackles, 13 solo stops, and two TFLs in the regular season … started four games at wide receiver in 2013, but picked up his first career start at linebacker in the season-opening victory over Rice (Aug. 30) … registered three tackles, including a solo stop, against the Owls … did not start in the 31-0 rout of Michigan (Sept. 6), but recorded one tackle … returned to the starting lineup in the 30-14 victory over Purdue (Sept. 13) … picked up a tackle against the Boilermakers … did not start but played in the 31-15 victory over Syracuse (Sept. 27) … started at linebacker in the 17-14 win over No. 14 Stanford (Oct. 4) and made one solo tackle … started and recorded one solo tackle against North Carolina (Oct. 11) … split a tackle at No. 2 Florida State (Oct. 18) … did not start against Navy (Nov. 1) but collected a career-best seven tackles and career-best two TFLs … appeared against No. 11 Arizona State (Nov. 8) but did not make a tackle … made four tackles, two solo stops, vs. Northwestern (Nov. 15) … started against Louisville (Nov. 22) and made one solo tackle … started at USC (Nov. 29) but did not make a tackle … started in the 31-28 Music City Bowl victory over No. 22 LSU (Dec. 30) … collected four tackles against the Tigers.

FRESHMAN SEASON (2013): Played in all 12 regular-season games and started four (Michigan, Oklahoma, Pittsburgh and Stanford) as rookie receiver … caught two passes for 34 yards … also made six tackles on special teams, all solo … had a 23-yard catch against the Panthers and an 11-yard catch against the Cardinal … recorded single tackles in six different contests.

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: First-team running back on both Associated Press and Minnesota Football Coaches Association 2012 all-state squads … named to All-Pioneer Press 2012 all-star squad as running back/wide receiver/defensive back for 2012 by Saint Paul Pioneer-Press … ranked 22nd player nationally on Rivals.com list in “athlete” category … listed as top player in Minnesota on Detroit Free Press Best in the Midwest ratings … ranked 296th overall and 39th among wide receivers on Scout 300 by Scout.com … finished senior season at Cretin-Derham Hall High School in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in 2012 with 574 rushing yards and 12 rushing TDs on 74 attempts, plus 26 catches for 421 yards and five more TDs … led Suburban East Conference in scoring in 2012 with 116 points … averaged 26.1 yards (209 total yards) on kickoff returns … also made 10 tackles in 2012 and returned an interception 94 yards for a TD … had 246 all-purpose yards in 2012 season-opening win over East Ridge including that 94-yard interception return for a TD and a 45-yard TD reception … piled up 428 receiving yards on 27 catches and five TD catches as a junior in 2011 … rushed 71 times for 549 yards and eight TDs in 2011 … scored 80 points in 2011 and added an interception and eight tackles … finished with 420 rushing yards, 95 receiving yards, 70 kickoff returns yards and five tackles as a sophomore in 2010 while scoring three TDs … from long list of Cretin- Derham Hall players to attend Notre Dame, most recently Michael Floyd and Ryan Harris … enrolled at Notre Dame in January 2013 … played for coach Mike Scanlan … son of Francis Onwualu and Ann Perry … enrolled in Mendoza College of Business, majoring in finance.