K-State could be fast riser for 2019 R250 lineman EJ Ndoma-Ogar

Elton Ndoma-Ogar has been on the radar of numerous top FBS programs as a punishing 2019 offensive lineman, and has the offers to prove it.

His most recent one came from Kansas State on Wednesday. While that may not be the offer most would have expected to make an immediate impact on his recruitment, Ndoma-Ogar said that he’s now itching to visit Manhattan on the October 14 weekend when the Wildcats host TCU.

“It felt really, really good getting that offer,” he said. “It kind of surprised me how I felt. I have a lot of offers that are up there, but K-State, there’s just something about it … Every offer’s great, don’t get me wrong, but getting K-State was just awesome.”

Ndoma-Ogar said that after preseason scrimmages with Arlington-Martin - led by Kansas State defensive end commit Spencer Trussell - he exchanged some info with his sparring partner and got the ball rolling with the Wildcats.

“(Trussell) told me he was gonna put me on Kansas State, sent me [director of recruiting Taylor Braet’s] information and I started talking to him,” Ndoma-Ogar said. “He liked the way my film looked during the season and he told me that he was going to offer me because he felt I have the potential to be a great player.”

The standout Allen offensive lineman first has plans to visit Colorado for the Buffaloes’ game against Washington this weekend, then off to Winston-Salem to take in Wake Forest’s game against Florida State on September 30. Even with those trips next up on the itinerary, he’s already anticipating that visit to Kansas State.

“I feel like it’s going to be a really good visit; I feel like they’re going to put all hands on deck,” he said. I expect them to try their hardest and that’s what I like to see - a program that doesn’t give up. I feel like I am really going to enjoy it.”

On Colorado

“I’m just looking for a great fanbase, great coaching, and I just want see how the coaches are,” he said. “Everyone can be nice and stuff, but I want to see what it’s like on a game day and I feel like they’re going to show that to me.”

“I feel like I am going to have some interest in them,” he said. “It’s going to be exciting as the process goes on; their interest, it shows. They text me every day - just as much as Oklahoma does - and they send me a lot of mail, hand-written letters, so it’s awesome.”

On Oklahoma

“They talk to me every day,” he said. “They’ll send me videos with recaps of last game, ask me how I’m doing. I kind of feel like they really want me and I love Oklahoma. I get the feeling when these schools wants me - even after September 1st - they’re definitely one of those schools.”

“My dad is funnelling me more to Oklahoma,” he said. “It’s kind of crazy to me too, they kind of like to give me a hard time, but it’s in that stage where it’s just, make the right choice. Look into it and make sure it’s the right one for you. My grandpa is an alum up there and was a professor up there and he’s the one pressuring me to go to Oklahoma.”

On Wake Forest

“They’re starting to prove people wrong,” he said. “I have a feeling that Wake has a lot of confidence in themselves so this is going to be a close one … Every time I went to go up there to visit, the players are hungry. The program wasn’t all that back then, but it’s changing now it’s going to be something to see.”

“You know I gotta give the line some love,” he said. “They’re out there doing work as always, opening holes for their scheme. I see how they’re beating teams now and the coaches change the strategy every week. I like that they’re not keeping the same scheme and changing it up.”

Ndoma-Ogar’s father played football at Wake Forest, and his mother was an athlete at nearby North Carolina as well. He said because of that, he’s given the Tar Heels a hard look, and from the sounds of things, those two schools - and even Duke - have a significant place in his recruitment due in part to his fondness for the state.

“It’s like my second home,” he said. “There’s just something about it … just brings me back so many times. Just thinking about it when I was younger and going to one of those Carolina schools would be awesome, but I have options now, so it’s kind of tough.”

With his fall shaping up to be a very active, he said that he hopes to be able to cut his list down to a Top 10 following the season. Ndoma-Ogar checks many of the physical and mental boxes teams look for in a versatile offensive lineman, and as he continues to develop as a player, he’ll continue to be a top target nationally.