Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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60 MARCH 2019 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2019 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY DAVID MCKINNEY Normality was never the goal for NaNa Osafo-Mensah. The four-star defensive end — who enrolled at Notre Dame in January — decided at a young age that he wasn't going to be one who grows up in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, heads off to Texas or TCU, and circles right back to DFW after graduation. It also wasn't the path his parents had taken. Osafo-Mensah's parents, Dr. Kwaku Osafo-Mensah and Joyce Osafo-Men- sah, both came to America from Ghana in West Africa to seek better opportuni- ties. Dr. Osafo-Mensah graduated from Stanford Medical School, while Joyce attended school in New Jersey. With parents who understood the value of a strong education and work ethic, the younger Osafo-Mensah was predestined to become the moti- vated individual he is today. From the time they were in early grade school, Osafo-Mensah and his sister took part in several extracurricular activities — including Kumon, an after-school reading and mathematics program. "Our parents put us in that mind- set," Osafo-Mensah said. "They al- ways had us doing extra stuff like Kumon, karate and chess club. … We wanted to have an edge to us that was different from other people. "Throughout that experience, I re- alized that I didn't want to be like ev- erybody else. I wanted to be someone different." Osafo-Mensah finished high school as a National Honor Society inductee and an Eagle Scout, but football is where his abilities truly stood out. "After my fresh- man year was when I thought I could re- ally play on the col- lege level," he said. "That's when I de- cided to turn it up a little bit and start w o r k i n g h a r d e r than I had been." F r o m t h e r e , Osafo-Mensah con- tinued to aggres- sively pursue the n o n - c o n f o r m i n g path he had set. "If I have some- thing I want to get or something I want to do, I'm going to do anything I can to get there," he explained. "Before my freshman year I said I wanted to become an All- American, so I would do extra stuff." And become an All-American he did. Osafo-Mensah was one of four Notre Dame signees to participate in the 2019 All-American Bowl in San Antonio. "I'd work out at school at six in the morning, I'd drive into Dallas to work out on a school night," Osafo-Mensah said. "Whenever I have the determi- nation to get something, I'm going to work toward it no matter what. "Nothing is going to stop me." Osafo-Mensah was still a teenager, t h o u g h , a n d t h e temptations of par- ties and procrastina- tion of high school were still there. "It was a lot of self- discipline, honestly," Osafo-Mensah said. "There have been times when I wanted to go to a party or sleep in, but I know if I'm sleeping in, there's somebody else out there working to get better than me. "I didn't want that to happen to me. I sacrificed things so when I go to sleep at night I feel better about myself." His choice to head north for college came as a surprise to many, but not to him. Conformity was never the plan. "That's why I wanted to go to Notre Dame," Osafo-Mensah said. "Most people in Fort Worth are going to Texas or TCU. There are not many people going to Notre Dame. "I feel like me going there is going to help me appear to be a different type of person with a different type of mindset." ✦ NANA OSAFO-MENSAH DEFENSIVE END 6-3 · 235 NOLAN CATHOLIC H.S. FORT WORTH, TEXAS RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ — 23 55 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 255 28 34 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 222 14 26 STATISTICS • Recorded 55 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, 23 quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and four passes broken up as a senior. • Notched 111 stops, 14 tackles for loss and three sacks during his junior campaign. HONORS • 2018 USA Today All-State first-team selection • 2018 Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools Defensive MVP • 2018 Dallas-Fort Worth Inside High School Sports Defensive Player of the Year ALL-STAR GAMES AND CAMPS • 2019 All-American Bowl selection • Participated in the 2018 Under Armour Future 50 Camp • 2018 Nike Football The Opening finalist • 2018 Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge • Defensive Line MVP at The Opening Regional Dallas RECRUITMENT • Committed to Notre Dame May 19, 2018, and enrolled in January 2019. • Chose the Fighting Irish over Texas. • Primarily recruited to Notre Dame by defensive line coach Mike Elston. • Visited South Bend a total of four times, includ- ing an official visit April 13-15. NOTABLE • Born on Dec. 18, 2000. • He is an Eagle scout and a National Honor Society inductee. • His parents came to the United States from Ghana in West Africa. • His father, Dr. Kwaku Osafo-Mensah, graduated from Stanford medical school in 1995. 2019 PROJECTION • Being an early enrollee should give Osafo-Men- sah a shot to compete for time in his first season. THEY SAID IT Nolan Catholic head coach David Beaudin: "In terms of off-the-field intangibles, I can say he checks every box. He is an ultimate leader and a faith-based kid. He's a special, special kid." Defensive line coach Mike Elston: "An explosive pass rusher who brings every trait we look for in a Notre Dame football player on and off the field. NaNa strives for excellence day in and day out." BGI football analyst Bryan Driskell: "Osafo-Men- sah is a drop end candidate, but with his length and natural power he could easily play on the strongside. The Fort Worth native is an instinctive defender, and he shows powerful and fast hands. "Osafo-Mensah flashes a nice first step, and is an agile athlete with quick feet and good balance. Has a natural feel as a pass rusher." NaNa Osafo-Mensah Never Wanted To Be Normal Osafo-Mensah has excelled in both the classroom (National Honor Society) and on the gridiron (24 tackles for loss and 14 sacks as a senior). PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM