How Confidence, Self-Awareness, and Miguel Chavis Aided Danny Okoye’s Admission to Oklahoma

The Sooners’ defensive ends coach was “just another guy” at first, but he quickly became a beloved mentor to the state’s top-rated player, who claims he’s always been an underdog.

NORMAN — When Danny Okoye’s recruiting process began, Oklahoma assistant Miguel Chavis appeared to be nothing out of the ordinary.

But, as Okoye’s recruitment progressed, that perception shifted dramatically, and Chavis became one of the primary reasons the state’s top player signed with the Sooners on Wednesday.

“It started off with him just being another recruiter,” Okoye explained to AllSooners. “I was going through that process, talking to a bunch of different schools multiple times a day, and he was just another guy.

“And as time went on, as I started to really do my homework on the program and Coach (Brent) Venables and coach Chave and Coach (Todd) Bates, I started seeing the potential that was there. I started to see maybe there was more to it than met the eye.”

Chavis, 35, an outgoing and engaging former Clemson edge rusher who spent a short time in the NFL before joining Venables at Oklahoma for the 2022 season, has an outgoing and engaging personality. He’s completely likable, intensely goofy, highly emotional, deeply insightful — the works — and his teammates adore him. Venables claims that recruiting comes naturally to him.

“He’s a very relational person,” said Venables. “He’s got a big personality. But he’s got a lot to him just as a human being. He’s got a unique background certainly as a former collegiate player. Played professionally as well. But he’s got a great testimony and people are attracted to that. He sees the best in people and he’s passionate. So people are connected to a lot of the endearing qualities that he has.

“He’s a humble guy, but he’s outgoing. And he loves his job and it’s evident. People again are attracted to people that have a lot of passion that just flows into every part of their life. So whether he’s a husband or a father, he loves his players. And he’s genuine. And so those are all great traits to have in the recruiting business.”

Okoye quickly discovered this about the Sooners’ defensive ends coach.

“As we built on the communication and we started talking more and conversing more, it became pretty obvious to me that there was a lot there,” Okoye said. “He’s gone from being just another recruiter to someone I can see as a mentor, to be honest with you, just the way he lives his life, the passion he has for the game and the passion he has for his players. It’s not just being another athlete there. He’s really trying to make you the best person you can be, and that’s what I want out of a college football program.”

Okoye, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 245 pounds, sees his upcoming college career — he’ll enroll in January and begin spring practice, he said — as the next major challenge in a football career filled with them.

“Man, I’ve always been doubted,” Okoye said. “I’ve always been the guy that people say, ‘He’s all right, but once he gets to college … ” I’ve heard that so many times at this point. It’s like, I’ll just have to show you what I can do.”

#Sooners EDGE Danny Okoye with the pressure and Houston commit Zion Taylor returns the INT for the TD.@USArmyBowl live on @Stadium. https://t.co/xjDGdcUHYPhttps://t.co/PXJRJ5ViFz pic.twitter.com/LKXCiMU6IA

— Billy Embody (@BillyEmbody) December 19, 2023

He did just that on Monday, when he dominated the opposition in the US Army Bowl at The Star in Frisco, TX, as his Gold team won 63-27. Okoye was elected captain of the team and spent the night in the opposing backfield. He had a sack and a tackle for loss, but his standout play was a quarterback pressure that resulted in a bad throw, an interception, and an easy defensive touchdown for a teammate. Although Okoye was not named MVP, many observers believe he should have been.

“It was great, man. It was an amazing game, and the practices leading up to it were great,” Okoye said. “It was really just a nice time to go out there and play football. So I was just trying to soak it in, fly around, do as much as I can and it ended up going the way I wanted it to go. Being able to play against really good competition — some of the best competition in the country — and have the type of game that I had, it was definitely a confidence booster. I really enjoyed it.”

Okoye revealed the size of the chip on his shoulder in a tweet after dominating in a high school All-American game.

“I don’t want to hear no more of that ‘couldn’t play 6A stuff,’ ” he tweeted.

I don’t wanna hear no more of that “couldn’t play 6A” stuff😂

— Danny "🅿️hantom" Okoye (@itsdanielokoye) December 19, 2023

“I’ve had to overcome those type of statements for a long time, ever since I went from 6A football (at Jenks) to homeschool my sophomore year,” Okoye said. “It’s always been, ‘Oh, you’re just a homeschool guy; you’re just a homeschool athlete. You wouldn’t do anything if you moved to 6A.’ I always just laughed it off because I know what I can do. I’ve done it up against 6A guys at camps. I do my thing, so I don’t really care who I go up against as long as I play my hardest, and I’m always gonna do that. That’s all there is to it.”

Venables couldn’t be more certain.

“His talent is freakish,” said Venables. “His development is really — they did a nice job at NOAH in getting him to (this) point. And he’s been a guy that’s a football junkie, worked on his craft alone.”

To be sure, Okoye’s three years in homeschool (the Jaguars won the homeschool national championship his junior year) demonstrate talent. He was a defensive end who occasionally slid inside, a little linebacker who occasionally contributed big plays as a tight end or wide receiver on offense. He was also NOAH’s punter, and he was known for hitting 50-yarders inside the 20-yard line.

Venables described it as “freakish.”

However, coming out of homeschool as a national priority recruit (he chose OU over Texas, Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, LSU, Nebraska, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and others) demonstrates a rare patience and supreme confidence.

“He’s got great humility, great self-awareness,” Venables said. “Really intelligent young guy. Has really worked hard at developing his game.”

Business was indeed stood on. pic.twitter.com/9kDfyYO47S

— Danny "🅿️hantom" Okoye (@itsdanielokoye) December 21, 2023

Okoye said he’ll share a dorm room with Melissa, TX, defensive end Nigel Smith, another of Chavis’ “freakish” edge men who could one day form half of a college football terror tandem.

Someday.

“I’m not crazy enough to think I’m gonna go in there and dominate,” Okoye said, “but I’m definitely gonna do my thing and try my hardest to put on as good a show as possible.

“Man, I’m just looking forward to getting on campus. It’s been a long process and now that it’s finally coming to a close, I can finally just calm down and focus on what’s going on ahead of me instead of what has been going on behind me. It’s been a great time and I’m blessed to go through this process. It’s coming to a close and I can finally look forward to when I’m wearing that Crimson and Cream. It’s gonna be a fun ride.”

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