Ojemudia ready to get started
After wrapping up track season and graduating from high school, Michigan safety Michael Ojemudia is ready to get started with his college career at Iowa in early June. We caught up with the 6-foot-2, 185-pound Ojemudia to talk about making the transition to college, his goals for his freshman year, and much more.
Q: What have you been up to this spring?
OJEMUDIA: I've just been busy with track mainly. I run the 110 hurdles and the 300 hurdles.
Q: How has your season been going?
OJEMUDIA: It's been pretty good. My best time is a 14.1 in the 110. I'm ready to go to state.
Q: Where are you at in the season right?
OJEMUDIA: We've got regionals coming up.
Q: Are you mixing in football workouts with that?
OJEMUDIA: Yeah, I'm getting some workouts in too. I'm still lifting and trying to gain weight.
Q: What is that like trying to balance all of that and finishing up school too?
OJEMUDIA: It's kind of hard, especially keeping the weight up when you're running all of the time. It's a process.
Q: What is your height and weight right now?
OJEMUDIA: I'm about 6-2, 185 right now.
Q: Looking to Iowa, when do you make the move out there this summer?
OJEMUDIA: Early June.
Q: What made you decide to get there right away basically?
OJEMUDIA: I'm just trying to get ahead and I'm taking summer classes too. I'm just ready for it.
Q: What are you looking forward to starting college this summer?
OJEMUDIA: I think just a new experience and a new place. The first day I get there, there's a workout, so I'm looking forward to that and just seeing how the program is and adjusting to everything.
Q: Having your brother at Michigan, what advice has he given you about coming into a Big Ten program as a freshman?
OJEMUDIA: He told me that the summer workouts are going to be tough. It's going to be a transition, so you've got to be ready for that, you've got to hydrate, and get your sleep and all that too.
Q: Position wise, are you still starting out at safety?
OJEMUDIA: Yeah, still starting out at strong safety.
Q: Which coaches have you been talking with mostly and what has been their message?
OJEMUDIA: I usually talk to Coach Parker. He said right now I could play any DB. If bulk up, there could be a position change, but they're looking at me for DB right now.
Q: Have you found out what number you will be wearing?
OJEMUDIA: No, I haven't yet.
Q: Any preference like your high school number?
OJEMUDIA: I was #13 in high school. I would probably like #13 or #7 in college.
Q: What are your goals going into your freshman year? Are you hoping to play or redshirt or what is your mindset going in?
OJEMUDIA: If they can use me right away, then I'm all in. Whatever I can do to help the team, I'm willing to do.
Q: Looking back at your decision, you had some schools come in late right before signing day, what made Iowa the right fit that you stuck with them?
OJEMUDIA: Iowa has always been a good program and when I visited, I knew that I wanted to go there. I felt like it was the place for me to be. Even though it was eight hours away, I knew that's where I should go.