2019 APB Chux Nwabuko III expands on junior season goals, significant interest in Texas

Hutto all-purpose back Chux Nwabuko III is still getting acclimated to his new high school home after transferring from Pflugerville Hendrickson over the offseason and in the meantime, he’s been spending plenty of time at his second home — the Forty Acres.

When the Texas Longhorns hosted Maryland and San Jose State each of the previous two weekends, the speedy 2019 prospect joined a small army of recruits in Austin for a pair of visits, which Nwabuko told Burnt Orange Nation, “was pretty great.”

Although Texas is yet to extend on offer, the staff has remained in consistent contact with his father, Chux Nwabuko II; an Austin-based sports performance trainer who works with elite recruits and current Longhorns, as well as Longhorn legends including Aaron Ross, Sanya Richards-Ross, Michael Griffin and Derrick Johnson, to name a few.

"It's been more with my dad in the last month,” Nwabuko said. “Over the summer, he heard from coach Drew Mehringer often."

As seen above, the 5-foot-6 Nwabuko camped with the ‘Horns during the summer, putting his blazing 4.4 40-yard dash speed on full display. The explosive upside is evident, although the film is limited, which Nwabuko said is something programs such as Texas are waiting for.

Now at Hutto, that’s beginning to change as Nwabuko is emerges as a do-it-all standout for the Hippos as the starting running back, kick returner, punt returner and occasionally, even lining up in the slot.

"I have a big role,” Nwabuko said. "They use me in a lot of ways. I'm a big weapon on offense."

Through two games, Nwabuko has produced 417 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns in his new role, although such productivity is a splash in the pan in comparison to the lofty goals he’s set in place for his junior campaign.

"I want 2,000-plus rushing yards," Nwabuko said. "I want 1,000-plus receiving yards, 35 touchdowns, five kick return and five punt return [TDs]. I want to be all-state and in my district, of course I want to be first-team all-district. And I want to have 1,000 return yards."

Coming anywhere close to his goals would have Nwabuko’s name firmly planted on more than a few college football recruiting big boards, but the baseball diamond is currently his bread and butter.

An Honorable Mention All-American and member of an elite Houston Banditos summer club, programs including Virginia and Connecticut have expressed plenty of interest in Nwabuko’s services, which aligns perfectly with his long-term goals.

"I want to play in the MLB and if not, my backup plan is to play college football."

Once the football offers begin to roll in, Nwabuko said the opportunity to play both football and baseball will factor into his collegiate decision, although big-name football offers won’t ultimately override his plan to play in the MLB.

"I want to stick to the plan,” Nwabuko said of whether or not any Power 5 offers would pull him away from baseball. “I want to get drafted out of high school, but if I don't get drafted high enough, or at all, I want to go to college and play football.”

If the latter proved true and Nwabuko does elect to play college football, a potential Texas offer would be one he couldn’t pass up, and not so surprisingly considering his ties to the Longhorns.

"I'll take it.” That's one of my dream schools, “Nwabuko said. That would be just big.”

"I have strong ties to Texas. Aaron Ross and Sanya Richards-Ross and Tarell Brown are like my uncles and aunt. I've known them my whole life and see them weekly. Being from Austin, UT has a dear place in my heart. Definitely top five."