Ogemdi Nwagbuo Interview

In 2007, Michigan State’s Ogemdi Nwagbuo (oh-GIM-dee new-WOW-bo) enjoyed a solid senior campaign. At season’s end, the Spartans nose tackle was named to 2008 Hula Bowl's East team. Several pundits have Ogemdi listed as a second-day selection or priority free agent. The San Diego native kindly spoke with Football Review Daily on the eve of the NFL Draft about the his final collegiate season, the emergence of Oren Wilson, and Barry Sanders’ touchdown celebrations.

Q. How has your time at Michigan State prepared you for playing at the next level?

Playing at Michigan State prepared me because it has allowed me to play against some of the top competition in the country. That’s what you get in the Big Ten.

Q. Favorite game from 2007?

Penn State because we came from behind and finally closed out a game. It enabled us to go to a bowl.

Q. Favorite play from 2007?

When defensive tackle Oren Wilson knocked down the pass against Michigan, it showed his emergence as a future star in the Big Ten Conference.

Q. Toughest away game last season?

Definitely Ohio State but every road game in the Big Ten is tough.

Q. Oddest thing an offensive player has said to you on the field?

One player asked me, “How do you pronounce your name?” That was kind of funny.

Q. How have you prepared for the draft?

I trained mostly at school because I was taking classes.

Q. Will you be watching the draft with friends and family?

I still have finals so I will just be watching the draft up at school in Cherry Lane with DE Colin Neely and DT Oren Wilson.

Q. You scored a TD in junior college. How did your celebration go?

I just tossed the ball to the referee, kind of like Barry Sanders.

Q. Have you gotten used to the cold weather up in Michigan?

You can’t really get used to the cold weather. I just try to stay out the cold in the winter. I remember me and Dave Stanton who was also from junior college in California used to put stuff outside to see what happened when it would freeze.

Q. Favorite NFL player growing up?

My favorite team was the Patriots so I always liked Drew Bledsoe and Willie McGinest.

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Kory Lichtensteiger Interview

Photo Courtesy of Doug Sampson

Kory Lichtensteiger is your typical blue-collared center. He gets the job done each and every day on the field, and is one of the nicest guys you can meet off the field. Kory’s play on the field speaks for itself. He had an amazing career at Bowling Green starting in 44 consecutive games at both the guard and center positions and if there was a Falcons rushing touchdown in 2007, Kory Lichtensteiger was sure to be leading the way. Kory also wrapped up the 2007 season with 76 knockdowns (we advise not getting in Kory’s way). Obviously Lichtensteiger finished off his college career as one of the best centers of the 2007 college football season.

Kory took some time to give Football Review Daily the scoop on the Combine, Senior Bowl, and even those crazy game day rituals athletes have.


Q. You had a stellar career at Center, how would you feel about moving back to Guard in the NFL?

I feel like it is something I could do. I had the chance to get some guard action in at the Senior Bowl and I thought I improved as the week went on. But, I know I am going to be drafted as a center and that is where I feel I am the best.

Q. With all the poking and prodding at the Combine, what was that experience like?

There were definitely times where we were poked and prodded by the NFL doctors, but that was the easy part. My real dreadful experience was spending half the day at the hospital getting three different MRI's. For a guy who is claustrophobic, sitting through three straight hours in a cramped space is about as bad as it gets.

Q. Playing in the Senior Bowl is a great experience, what did you take away from this experience?

I think it was an extremely valuable experience because it put in a pro-style offense where I had to identify either the Mike or the Will linebacker to determine blocking assignments. This is not something I had done often at Bowling Green and I know it is a key element of being a successful NFL center. Plus, meeting all the other players from around the country was cool too.

Q. Who's style would you say you relate to in the NFL and why?

I’m not really sure, but I hope to go to a team where both the pass and the run are used efficiently. I want to be able to help a runner and a passer make it to the pro bowl.

And now for the lighter side of Kory….

Q. What was the strangest question you got asked at the combine?

“When was the last time you smoked crack?”
To which I replied, “I have never smoked crack.” The part that really got me was not that he asked if I ever smoked crack, but that he asked the last time I had done it. And when I said I had never done any kind of drugs, he looked at me with an unbelievable look. I guess to him I looked like a drug user!

Q. On game day, do you have any rituals/superstitions?

Lots of them. I’m a very superstitious guy. I always have to get taped by the same trainer. I wear the same boxers for every game (washed of course). They have made it three straight years and they’re still going strong. I have to go to game day chapel or I feel like something terrible will happen. There are some others too, but I think that is enough for now.

Q. Who was your favorite NFL team and Player growing up?

I didn’t really have one. I was much more of a basketball fan. But, it kind of worked out because now I don’t have to switch my loyalties.

Q. If you could date any celebrity who would it be?

I think this question might get me in trouble with my wife, Mandi. However, if I was forced to pick I would probably go with Rachel McAdams.

(Football Review Daily would like to report Kory is a HAPPILY MARRIED man with a son Ayden, he was kind enough to humor us with this answer…..we got your back Kory.)

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