Playing offensive line has been a journey for Alexander's Will Omenski. For the longest time, he has been one of the best left tackles in Laredo. He has been impressive from the jump, and he has contributed significantly to his team.
Last year, Omenski really started to turn some heads. He has always had the height and ideal build of a lineman to get the job done and secure an offer. He secured an offer, and on Sunday, Oct. 13, he made his verbal commitment to the University of Central Oklahoma.
Playing offensive line is one of the most challenging positions in football. Unlike skill positions that stand out with flashy plays, offensive linemen often go unnoticed by fans and media unless they make a mistake. Their job is to battle in the trenches, fighting off defenders, and creating opportunities for the offense to move the ball. Success at this position is measured less by statistics and more by consistency, technique and grit. This makes it difficult to get noticed, especially when college recruiters tend to focus on more visible roles like quarterbacks or wide receivers.
Earning a college football offer as an offensive lineman requires more than just size and strength. College coaches are looking for athletes with a combination of footwork, hand placement and agility to allow them to block both in the run game and in pass protection.
The recruiting process is further complicated because offensive linemen generally develop later than players in other positions. It's common for linemen to grow into their frames throughout high school, meaning some of their best football may come after college scouts have already begun evaluating talent. This late development, paired with the technical nature of the position, makes it challenging for many high school offensive linemen to stand out. Without eye-catching stats, they must rely on game film, camps and showcases to demonstrate they possess what it takes to play at the next level.
When Omenski began contacting colleges, he had mental notes on what he wanted. He knew he wanted to go to a location close to home, whether that was Kansas or Laredo. Both seemed like good locations where he could see himself for the next four years. He first heard about the school when they invited him to their junior day in April, and when he got there, it was like love at first sight.
"The facilities were great, it was close to my hometown of Wichita, Kansas, and it was right next to Oklahoma City. They also have a great program, taking into consideration the mental notes I made about what I wanted from a college, this school checked all the boxes, and the decision was easy from there," Omenski said.
Omenski received the offer immediately following the camp. He received the offer during the summer when he was in Kansas visiting grandparents and attending the camp. He was thrilled to receive the offer and share the moment with his grandpa, who took him to the camp.
One aspect that stood out to him about UCO was its dominant offense this past year, in both the running and passing games.
“I don’t think I’ve faced many challenges during the recruiting process,” Omenski said. “But one challenge is definitely getting noticed. Luckily, I had coach (Michael) Vigil to help me distribute tape to different schools and establish contact with colleges.”
Looking ahead, Omenski wants to continue developing into a great offensive lineman and hopefully have an impact when he gets on the field. He wants to be part of some significant achievements.
Omenski's biggest supporters during this whole process have been his coaches and family. His mom was the one taking him to every camp, going on every visit and pushing him to keep his grades up so he could be in this position.
"She really is my biggest supporter, and I love her very much for everything she’s done for me and my family," Omenski said. "I’m looking forward to working with coach (Adam) Dorrel and coach (Jarren) Hightower as they guide the offensive line. I’m excited to see how they develop our skills.”
Omenski has always believed that Alexander is an ideal place for an offensive lineman. Coach V and head coach Edwin Garcia both played offensive line at the college level, and coach Ruperto Contreras used to coach offensive line. There is so much experience within the coaching staff, which makes it a great environment for offensive linemen to learn, get better and develop into great players.
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