Ladue High School football player Okpala Moses (99) and his teammates pause during their season-opening game with Fort Zumwalt North High School Friday, Aug. 18, 2017 at Fort Zumwalt North in O'Fallon. Photo by Sid Hastings
CREVE COEUR •Ìý didn't understand why the college coaches wanted to talk to him. Before his freshman year at , he'd never picked up a football much less played an organized game. He had little experience, limited knowledge and missed his entire sophomore season while recovering from corrective heart surgery.
What could these college coaches see in him?
Well, he's 6-foot-7, weighs 255 pounds and has a wing span that stretches 7 feet, 2 inches.
Okpala, 18, returned to the field for his junior season and displayed the tantalizing physical attributes that have made him one of the fastest rising recruits in the Midwest. He racked up 65 tackles and a team-high nine sacks as the Rams finished as the Class 4 runner-up.
College programs took notice. Iowa State was the first to offer Okapla. Shortly thereafter, the parade of coaches and offers began.
“After a week, the next guy shows up and it just keeps going,†Okpala said. “It was all new to me then. I didn't really know. I'd heard of offers and stuff, but I didn't know the details of it and what it comes with.â€
Among the programs to offer Okpala are Illinois, Arkansas, Ball State, Dartmouth, Kentucky, Miami (Ohio), Michigan State, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Northern Illinois, Northwestern, Ole Miss, Purdue, South Dakota, Southeast Missouri State, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Western Michigan, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
“I think the thing that's great about him is he is so humble. The upside on him is huge,†Ladue coach Mike Tarpey said. “It's so raw and he's so willing that it's a great combination. You give him a couple years, he's going to be pretty special.â€
It's a lot for Okpala to process. Some players dream of being lavished with this type of attention, but Okpala never imagined it would be him. Born in Nigeria, his childhood hopes were centered around good schooling and opportunity. He found them when he arrived at Ladue before his freshman year.
A massive kid even then, Tarpey talked Okpala into giving football a chance. He did and hasn't looked back.
“It's family. Everyone is here for each other,†Okpala said. “We keep fighting for each other. From the heartbreak we had last year we're going to be tougher this year.â€
Okpala is primed for an exceptional season. He's at his best physically. Before he arrived at Ladue he didn't have access to a weight room. Now it's among his favorite places.
“In Nigeria I was a little bit chubby then. Some of the people were like, 'You should lift weights and stuff. It'll be good for you,' †Okpala said. “We tried to go to the place where you lift weights and it costs a lot of money. Whenever I came here the weights were right there. It's free.â€
As a freshman Okpala said he struggled to bench press 135 pounds. At last check his maximum bench press is up to 330.
“It's been a tremendous change,†he said.
Okpala's understanding of the game has grown exponentially. As a freshman he figured out how to put on a helmet. Everything else was new. Now he's expected to step into a leadership role.
“We have great coaches here. They taught me how to line up and all that stuff,†Okpala said. “I've come a long way from not knowing anything about football.â€
An outstanding student with a grade point average pushing 4.0, Okpala is searching for a school that will support his pursuit of a great education and help him develop as a player and person. He has a wide range of interests but thinks he might like to study law or psychology.
“I'm looking for academics. It's a big thing. I want to get my degree first,†he said. “Like my parents say, 'After football what are you going to do next?' I'm looking to get a degree and a good football culture.â€
Okpala would like to make his choice in time for the early signing period Dec. 19-21. Until then he'll continue to put in the work that has brought the attention he never expected.
“He's got a great personality and he's a great teammate,†Tarpey said. “We expect great things. He played great last year and we hope that continues.â€
2018-19 Post-Dispatch Super 30 preseason countdown
2018-19 Post-Dispatch Preseason Super 30 countdown
Ladue High School football player Okpala Moses (99) and his teammates pause during their season-opening game with Fort Zumwalt North High School Friday, Aug. 18, 2017 at Fort Zumwalt North in O'Fallon. Photo by Sid Hastings