Texas DE Charles Omenihu returning for senior season

On Tuesday, Texas Longhorns defensive end Charles Omenihu announced that he will return for his senior season in 2018:

“First of all, I want to thank everyone who has supported me during the decision-making process. From my family, to my teammates, to the coaching staff, I’ve had all the support I could ask for, and I can’t express how much I appreciate that from everyone. After taking everything into consideration, I’ve decided to return for my senior season at Texas,” Omenihu said in a statement released by the school.

“Although playing in the NFL is a dream of mine, when I looked at the whole picture, I know how much more I can develop both as a player and as a leader, and that’s what I’m looking forward to doing under Coach Herman, Coach Orlando, Coach Giles and Coach McKnight. I’m also on track to earn my degree, which is something that means so much to me, and I know how valuable a degree from UT will be to my future.

“With that, the win we just had in the Texas Bowl has already started the momentum, and I can’t wait to get into the offseason program and help build the future of this program.”

Playing as a four technique defensive end for coordinator Todd Orlando this season, Omenihu recorded 28 tackles, seven tackles for loss, four sacks, four quarterback hurries, and two forced fumbles.

Omenihu achieved that production after starting every game except for Baylor and increasing his numbers across the board. Playing heads up over the offensive tackle isn’t a position that provides a lot of opportunity for gaudy stats, but Omenihu was able to make an impact with his rare combination of length, size, and athleticism and should have an even better season in 2018.