2026 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Olisaemeka Ibelo, DL, University of Calgary

• Name: Olisaemeka Ibelo
• Position: Defensive Linemen
• College: University of Calgary
• Height: 6’7
• Weight: 330
• Twitter: @Franklin_Ibelo
• Instagram: @franklin.ibelo

1. What makes you a top prospect at your position in the 2026 NFL Draft?

At 6’7″, 330 lbs, I’m 1 inch taller than the 2025 Super Bowl average (6’6″) and 15 lbs heavier than the Chiefs’ line while just 8 lbs lighter than the Eagles’, giving me the ideal blend of size, power, and mobility to elevate any front while potentially raising the average in the process

2. What is one thing that NFL teams should know about you?

I operate with a soldier’s mindset, when you say “shoot,” I’m already asking, “how many rounds?” First in, last out, I never shy away from a challenge. I began as a defensive lineman, but when the coaches needed help on the offensive line, I played both sides without hesitation. That coachability, adaptability, discipline, and relentless work ethic are what I’ll bring to your organization.

3. If you could donate to one cause in the world, what would it be? 

Education for sure because it multiplies every other form of progress; I’d support initiatives that bring top-tier teachers, books, and technology to under-resourced schools.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” — Nelson Mandela

4. Who was your role model? 

This goes without saying but my mother is my role model, but she thought I was playing soccer till the first time she saw a game in person. David Diluzio, my high-school football coach who showed me what it really means to play the game and shaped much of what I know today.

5. Who is your favorite NFL team?

Seattle Seahawks (Legion of Boom)

6. Who is the most underrated teammate at your school? 

Ben Dobson — Linebacker. His name is known, but his true value is not fully recognized. Ben’s overcome serious adversity the last couple years yet remains the glue of our front seven; when I think of “grit,” I think of him. Any time I’m tired or banged-up, I ask myself, “What would Ben do?”—and the answer is always to push through.

7. What is your biggest pet peeve? 

Slow walkers blocking the whole sidewalk

8. Who is your favorite teacher ever?

Chris Anstey, D-line coach. Sure, he’s not a teacher in the traditional sense, in fact if you really know him, he’s the furthest thing from one. But I’ve learned more from him than in all high school and university. His impact has already equipped me with the tools I’ll need once the cleats are hung up.

9. Overcoming adversity is what defines character, what was the hardest moment in your life to overcome? 

When family circumstances changed, I had to step up for my mom and five younger siblings while still balancing classes and college football. That meant turning down steady jobs, internships, and trips—anything that might pull time or resources away from them. The experience drilled home the power of opportunity cost and reminded me of Alchemy’s First Law: “Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return; to obtain, something of equal value must be lost.” Sacrificing those personal opportunities showed me that real leadership is choosing what to give up so the people who count on you can move forward.

10. If you could have any franchise restaurant in your house what would it be?

Starbucks, if you are reading this go get the grandee iced chai tea latte with pumpkin cream cold foam on top and you’ll understand.

11. What is your favorite snack food? 

A large Chicken Shawarma from Shawarma Passion

12. What is your degree in? 

Dual Degree; Mathematics and Risk Management and Insurance

13. If you could have dinner with three people dead or alive, who would it be and why? 

• Aaron Donald — to pick the brain of a modern-day master of trench play and learn how he sustains elite performance season after season.
• Marilyn Monroe — purely for the vibes and unforgettable stories that only a timeless icon of pop culture could share.
• Kobe Bryant — to absorb the “Mamba Mentality” on relentless self-improvement and excelling under pressure.

14. What is your biggest weakness? 

I sometimes dwell on how fragile our paths are, one small twist in the past and I could be on the other sideline, or nowhere near this opportunity. That “what-if” thinking can pull me out of the moment, so I turn it into fuel: I remind myself I’d make the same choices again, then refocus on controlling what I can today and making each rep count.

As my coaches would say, “There are only a limited number of things we can control. Focus on what you can control”