Ethan Onianwa‘s path to the NFL was never straightforward. He wasn’t a blue-chip recruit. He didn’t arrive at a powerhouse program as an 18-year-old with the world at his feet. Instead, he built his story brick by brick — from the practice fields of a Houston commuter school to Ohio Stadium — driven by the same work ethic he credits to his parents, Nigerian immigrants who built a life from nothing for their family.
That relentless approach finally paid off. The Atlanta Falcons made it official this week, announcing the signing of Onianwa to his rookie contract. He was selected by Atlanta with the No. 231 overall pick in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft. The deal is estimated to be worth $4.53 million in total value, including a $155,928 signing bonus.
Onianwa, who stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 333 pounds and will wear No. 75 for the Falcons. He began his football journey at Cinco Ranch High School in Katy, Texas, where he was a three-year starter and earned a spot on the Houston Chronicle’s Top 100 list of area prospects heading into his senior season. He was a two-sport athlete in football and baseball, showcasing his versatility and athleticism.
Despite his frame and upside, Onianwa entered high school as a three-star recruit — ranked outside the top 1,000 players nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite — and committed to Rice, a program not known for producing NFL prospects.
After redshirting as a true freshman in 2021, Onianwa became one of the most dependable linemen in the AAC, starting 34 of 37 games over the next three seasons. He anchored the right side of Rice’s offensive line with 25 consecutive starts at right tackle in 2022 and 2023, earning the George R. Brown Offense Award — presented annually to the Owls’ top offensive contributors — and the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll. He then shifted to left tackle in 2024, allowing just one sack on 294 pass-blocking snaps.
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After his junior season, Onianwa briefly flirted with entering the 2025 NFL Draft before opting for another year of development to elevate his stock. That decision led him to the transfer portal, where he was ranked the No. 13 offensive tackle prospect available, according to the 247Sports rankings. Ohio State came calling. He chose the Buckeyes over a list that included Iowa, Texas A&M, Florida State, Oregon and several other Power Four programs, betting on himself to play on the biggest stage college football has to offer.
The move did not go as expected. Justin Frye, the offensive line coach who recruited him to Columbus, departed for the NFL before Onianwa arrived on campus, and Onianwa was unable to win the starting left tackle job during fall camp. While Onianwa played in all 14 games in 2025, he saw fewer than 100 offensive snaps for the Scarlet and Gray.
Now, the Falcons will try to maximize Onianwa’s potential.
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“Bright kid, went to Rice and then transferred to Ohio State,” Atlanta general manager Ian Cunningham said of Onianwa. “Big, strong, powerful. I think this is a guy that has upside. Coach (Bill) Callahan, we were just talking about it upstairs. He has a lot in his body and what he’s going to be able to do and help him develop. He’s got good feet, balance, but, I think there’s still room to grow. When he goes to Ohio State, he played a little bit more guard, did play some tackle there, so he showed a little bit more versatility than what he showed at Rice. So we’re excited about getting the player with some upside at tackle, but also with the ability to swing inside to go guard as well.”
