DAVIS, Calif. -- As UC Davis football winter practice continues, so does our ongoing series introducing Aggie fans to players who are up-and-comers and unsung heroes. On a team of more than 100 student-athletes playing a variety of roles, some players are relative unknowns to even avid followers, so we spotlight one player from each position group who UC Davis football fans should get to know.

This series continues with the running backs, and Jeremiah Chukwudobe, currently a first-year political science major from Diamond Bar, California.

WHY AGGIE FANS MIGHT NOT KNOW HIM: 
Like many student-athletes in this series, Chukwudobe (pronounced CHOO-koo-DOH-bay) walked on to the UC Davis football team. He redshirted the 2019 season and served mostly on the scout offense team early on, but did suit up for several games down the stretch – in part because of the injuries that plagued his position group, but mostly because he had earned the opportunity.

WHY AGGIE FANS SHOULD KNOW HIM: 
The man born Ogechukwuka Chukwudobe goes by his middle name Jeremiah but also by the nickname "Shifty," and for good reason: he models his game after the nimble-footed Barry Sanders. Chukwudobe enjoyed a breakthrough high school season as a senior at Diamond Bar High School, averaging better than 100 yards per game and earning Mount Baldy League MVP honors. 

During the recruiting process, assistant coach Mark Speckman admits having concerns about Chukwudobe's speed – only to have 5-foot-9, 180-pound back respond with a personal-record 11.9 in the 100-meter dash the following spring. Since his arrival at UC Davis, Chukwudobe has put on a good 20 pounds, and will further benefit from Jeff Bourque's rigorous spring conditioning.

ACCORDING TO MARK SPECKMAN, ASSISTANT HEAD COACH & RUNNING BACKS COACH:
"He just has a great attitude and he's a joy to coach. He's a great example of a guy with a lot of talent but also a lot of want-to. For a coach, that's a raw lump of clay. He comes from a very good family – his family is from Nigeria – and they really value his education and the UC system."

ABOUT UC DAVIS: Providing a small-town community feel while providing a world-class academic experience, UC Davis is home to more than 37,000 students and centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and the Napa Valley. The No. 5-ranked public university in the nation according to the Wall Street Journal, and among the top 10 public universities nationwide according to U.S. News and World Report, UC Davis offers nearly 100 graduate programs and more than 100 academic majors across four colleges and six professional schools, ranking among the world and nation's best in numerous disciplines, including veterinary science, agriculture, and plant and animal programs.

AGGIE EVO: Established in 2017-18, the Aggie EVO System is UC Davis Athletics' investment in the primary mission of preparing student-athletes for a successful "launch" after graduation. Thanks to a collaboration of alumni, university resources, corporate partners, coaches and Student-Athlete Outcomes staff, all Aggies are guided over four years to acquire the skills, knowledge, opportunities and tools to better know and navigate the "World of Work" after graduating from UC Davis. Follow the Aggie EVO system on Twitter and Instagram at @AggieEVO.

MARYA WELCH INITIATIVE: Named after the former physical education instructor, coach and Dean of Women who founded women's sports on the campus 25 years before the passage of Title IX, the Marya Welch Initiative for Women's Athletics provides comprehensive support for UC Davis' 16 women's athletics programs. Through the support of the Marya Welch Initiative and its group members, student-athletes are provided the best possible opportunity to succeed inside the classroom, and in competition, through special project gifts and by increasing visibility and participation at women's events throughout the year. All gifts to the Marya Welch Initiative are matched 1:1, doubling the impact on our women's programs. Visit this site for more information.

DON'T MISS OUT: Tickets for all UC Davis sports are on sale by contacting the Athletics Ticket Office at (530) 752-AGS1 or by visiting us online at tickets.ucdavis.edu.