Chris Oladokun, Alonso 2016 QB stands 6 foot tall and 160 pounds. This past season, he was the starting quarterback for the Ravens who finished 5-5 and started 2014 with high expectations. Oladokun is not the biggest, not the fastesr, but could he be one of the best this year? Chris took some time out to speak with BCP and enlighten us on the past, present and future for he and his Ravens.
BCP: First year starter, what were your expectations?
CHRIS: As a 1st year starter I was expected to lead my team to put us in the best position possible to win. I wasn’t expected to throw for 2,000 yards or even throw over 15 touchdowns passes. Being the youngest guy on the offense as a 1st year starter, I was expected to make more mistakes then I did this season.
BCP: On a scale for A to F, how would you grade your season and why?
CHRIS: If I had to grade my season this year I would give myself a B. In the beginning of the year the first two games I didn’t play well. Some of it was being nervous and getting used to the speed of the game. The game versus Newsome is really when I found my confidence and broke out of my shell. I took very good care of the ball this year throwing 25 touchdowns to only 3 interceptions. My receiving core was great also, which helped me a lot this year. I also became a better leader as the season went on. All the guys started to feed off of my energy; they trusted me and all the decision I made on and off the field. Going 5-5 this year was a disappointment for all of us though. With all of our talent we should of had a way better year. But as the quarterback I understand wins and loses are on me, so a B would be a fair grade.
BCP: What improvements to your game have you made this off-season?
CHRIS: This offseason I’ve definitely been in the weight room everyday. With more size on me, it would definitely help me with my recruiting! Getting in the classroom and breaking down every coverage is something I’m also going to improve on. Football is a game that is 50% mental for a quarterback even more. Better understanding coverages, fronts and blitzes will also raise my completion percentage which I wasn’t happy about. I have to improve on being a more efficient passer to become one of the elite quarterbacks in the country in my class. Making reads will definitely be the biggest thing I start to improve on with my coaches and my quarterback coaches for the upcoming season.
BCP: Would your teammates consider you a leader or a really good follower and why?
CHRIS: My team would consider me a leader that leads by actions. I’m not the type of guy that gets all in your face because that doesn’t solve anything at the end of the day. I have a really good relationship with all my teammates and I always talk to them in a positive way to make our team a family off the field so on the field we know we all have each other’s back.
BCP: What team stands in the way of Alonso’s success?
CHRIS: In all honesty we control our own destiny. Every year in the money games or district games we bite our own self in the foot. Plant is always a team that is going to take you down the wire. But, I truly believe we can open some eyes this year. Our whole district is tough. The work we put in now is what is going to get us to where we want to be at the end of the year, so we can beat the teams like Plant, Newsome, Jefferson and Sickles. If we control what we can control and play together, we will give the preseason big dogs a run for their money.
BCP: Describe a situation in which you aspired to reach a goal. What obstacles did you confront along the way? What did you do to overcome them?
CHRIS: Being the starting quarterback at Alonso my sophomore year. Leading all the way up to spring the main question was “Is he big enough to play 8A football and continuously take the pounding?” I can’t even tell you how many times I heard that I wouldn’t even make it past my 1st game. Also I didn’t have game experience in a big time game. There were many questions to whether I would step up to the challenge or be a bust. To overcome not having the god-gifted size, I really just tuned all the negative criticism about my size out. I knew at the end of the day I was going to give my team my all every game. People telling me I would make it as a starting quarterback really fueled my fire. I perfected my craft. I went out everyday and worked on my footwork that a 6’4 200 pound quarterback may not have and really focused on my accuracy. Winning the Kaleo QB challenge was definitely a huge confidence booster and opened some eyes up around the county. My teammates and my coaches really rallied behind me as well. They all believed in me and believed I could make them a better team even with my size. The whole process leading up to the starting quarterback was a blessing. I really showed some people this year that I can play a little bit at any size.
BCP: What kind of role model has your head coach been to you?
CHRIS: Coach E [Emanuel] is one the best coaches with out a doubt in the county. Coach E is a very quiet leader and I really have fed off of that. He’s my 2nd dad on and off of the field; we have a really good relationship off the field that brings us even closer on the field. He leads me in the right direction and has helped me out so much as far as recruiting, my academics and athletics go. Even with my personal life, he’s done things for me that I could never repay him back for. He’s definitely someone I know I can always look up to and talk to in times of struggle whether it’s football related or in my personal life.
BCP: If you could trade one of your best talents for another great talent, which would it be and why?
CHRIS: [Laughter] if I had to trade a talent for another … That’s a tough one! Well, I always wished I was faster [laughter] I guess running a 4.4 forty yard dash wouldn’t be too bad at all. I would probably trade my accuracy for speed because as they say… Speed really does kill [laughter] and my accuracy I could always work on and get that back on par. But, speed is a gift that everyone doesn’t get. You can never have enough speed [Laughter].