Local Athens star on his journey, interest from Dawgs

Many recruits play football their whole life in hopes of one day earning a scholarship.

Richard Jibunor is not one of those people.

It's certainly not the the junior athlete at Athens Christian School does not appreciate his opportunities, as Auburn, Iowa State, Wake Forest, and others have already offered.

More so, it's that Jibunor took up play on the gridiron a single season ago, and he's pretty sure he's found the sport in which to make his name.

“It’s the physicality," Jibunor said. "When I play basketball, I love being physical, but football is the sport where you have no technical fouls. You can hit someone as hard as you can. No matter how fast you want to be, you can hit someone, and no one gets mad at you. You can exhibit whatever you want as long as it’s not a penalty. I love the physicality of the game.”

The three-star prospect, who came to the Peach State by way of Nigeria, knew after his first game that football was different than anything he had tried before.

“It’s fun. The games I liked were basketball and track, and I’ve played soccer, too," Jibunor said. "When Coach brought me out to play football, it was all about my physicality and speed, and it fit the person I am. I said, ‘Wow, Coach. I love it.’ My first game I was able to score two touchdowns, and I told my coach I was ready. I made lots of mistakes, but the team was very excited to help me. We bonded, and I learned so fast. It’s improving all the time, and I think football is really my sport.”

Like most newcomers, there's been a sizable learning curve, but the 6-foot-4, 200 pound do-it-all was up to the challenge, especially with a little help.

“It was a little slow, but I was ready to give it my 100-percent effort," Jibunor said. "On offense, when we have plays, I have my own special huddle. My teammate, who’s the best receiver on the team, always helps me. He says, ‘Hey, Richard, you know what you got?’ I say, ‘I guess I’ve got a stop route and then go.’ He’ll say, ‘You got it down.’ My first few games were very bad like that, but, the further we got into the season, I got it down. My defensive end coach just told me, ‘Hey, go after the quarterback. Slant left, slant right.’ Depends on the play call. I did it, and it was working the whole time. I gave it full effort and went all out every time, and it went fine.”

There should be no surprise that he overcame the initial hurdles.

In fact, it's something he's well known for.

“I run the 4x400, the 4x100, the 300 meter hurdles, high jump, triple jump, the 400 meters. I’m the back-to-back state champion in the 300 meter hurdles," Jibunor said. "We also hold the state record in the 4x400. I’m happy to be a part of that. I run the 100 meters, too, but you can’t do more than three individual and two team events. I love the 300 meter hurdles because I’ve been undefeated so far.”

That raw athleticism has provided his high school coaches with plenty of positional flexibility.

“Right now, I don’t know the main place I play. I enjoy everywhere," Jibunor said. "One thing about me and one of the reasons Coach (Chris) Williams likes me is because I’m ready to play, and I hate losing. I remember when I told him I wanted to play football. I’d just come in from track season, and I’d won the state championship. He said, ‘Richard, I want to see what you can do with your speed on the football field.’ I came out as a wideout, an X. I caught the ball the first time and scored me, and no one touched me. The speed was good, so I kept doing it."

Success has not been limited to offense, however.

"On defense, I played as a defensive end against the teams who run a lot and have a lot of fast guys," Jibunor said. "Coach tried me at safety, so I could run, but I wasn’t really familiar with plays. I was just running around, and I loved it. I had fun, and I got a lot tackles. Coach knows all I’m after is winning a game.”

High school coaches are not the only ones impressed either.

“At Georgia this summer, I had a chance to work with the coaches," Jibunor said. "It was just me working with them, and I got to work for Coach James Coley, Coach Sam Pittman, and Coach Mel Tucker."

Georgia's head man was blown away when he heard of Jibunor's background.

"Coach Kirby (Smart) was there, too. He saw me, and he was impressed," Jibunor said. "He told me some impressive things and was happy with my speed and how physical I was. He couldn’t believe I’d only played ball for a season."

Given his proximity to the Bulldogs, it's no surprise that they have played a large role in Jibunor's football education.

"Georgia was the first live football game I’d been to, when Georgia played Tennessee two years ago," he said. "I went, and I said, ‘Man, I want to play football.’ After that, all the schools came in."

Current and former Georgia players have become close associates as well.

"I’ve got good friends, like Mecole Hardman, who I did track with. I was happy he went to Georgia, and he was, too," Jibunor said. "He told me, ‘Hey man, don’t worry. We’re gonna get you.’ I’m also good friends with Justin Scott-Wesley. He is one of my mentors in track. Last season, he worked out with me every day here. He tried to show me how to get faster and get better. He’s such a good guy. He talked about them, and I really liked it.”

All of those ties have the nearby star looking forward to an offer from his local team.

“It’s gonna mean a lot," Jibunor said. "Georgia was the first game I went to, and I saw it and was so happy. I loved the team spirit. I’m a Georgia guy and all my school mates and friends talk about going to see the Dawgs every Saturday."

While the Bulldogs wait to offer, rival Auburn has already made their intentions known, and it was more than welcomed.

“I went over, and we had a camp session," Jibunor said. "They invited a few of us, and they let us compete amongst ourselves to do the best we could. After everything, the coaches were very impressed. Coach Rodney Gardner and Coach T-Will were very happy with me, and they all like me. They offered me, and it meant a lot. Auburn is one of the schools I really liked. When it came, I was so happy.”

Interest has now begun to pickup around the nation.

“Louisville has checked in. Indiana, too," Jibunor said. "Virginia has sent me some letters. Arizona. A lot from Florida State. Florida,too. I’ve had a lot of people talk to me about Florida. I was invited down there recently, but I had team camp and couldn’t make it. They understood. Those are the main ones.”

Major players will have a chance to impress in the upcoming season, as Jibunor will be taking in campuses around the country.

“On September 10, I’m planning to go see Clemson at Auburn. I’ll be there by the grace of God,” he said.

One trip in particular is already marked on the calendar.

Jibunor plans to see Tennessee at Georgia in Sanford Stadium on October 1, bringing his journey back to where it all started.

“I’m looking forward to that day,” he said of the game.