The Washington Commanders added more depth to their pass rush by signing veteran Charles Omenihu. Here are five things to know about the newest defensive lineman.
**1\. He transformed his body in college.**
Omenihu is joining the Commanders with a hulking 6-foot-5, 280-pound frame, but that wasn't always the case. He came to the University of Texas much thinner, and he knew that needed to change in order to square up against college-level offensive tackles.
So, that's exactly what he did.
"You know, I'm so proud of Charles," [former teammate Malik Jefferson told the](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/longhorns/article/After-transforming-body-UT-s-Charles-Omenihu-12328075.php) [\*San Antonio Express-News\* in 2017.](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/longhorns/article/After-transforming-body-UT-s-Charles-Omenihu-12328075.php) "He worked really hard to be where he is now."
Omenihu's transformation was a gradual one. He arrived at Texas weighing 230 but put on 25 pounds by the end of his sophomore year. Then, when Tom Herman took over the program in 2017, he began working with strength and conditioning coach Yancy McKnight and defensive line coach Oscar Giles. Their main advice for Omenihu: work out, eat as much as possible and repeat.
That did the trick. Omenihu weighed in at 275 during his senior season, and the extra size gave him a much-needed benefit up front. He recorded 13.5 sacks in his final two seasons to go with 25 tackles for loss and 73 total stops.
"I can really just thank coach McKnight," Omenihu said. "Starting in the offseason, he really just transformed my body, allowed me to play with a lot more power, a lot more strength. Our offseason program really helped me develop."