Kinda surprised to be the first to post this - we've lost ourselves a biggun. Thanks for the thrills, Udodi and best of luck going forward!
Onwuzurike turns pro
Onwuzurike turns pro
Udodi Onwuzurike
Kinda surprised to be the first to post this - we've lost ourselves a biggun. Thanks for the thrills, Udodi and best of luck going forward!
Onwuzurike turns pro
Onwuzurike turns pro
11-06-2023, 07:13 PM
(11-06-2023, 05:22 PM)BobK Wrote: I was too sad and upset to post here Best to him.I wish he would have stuck around, but now days with the money that is out there for a man of his talent, take the money and run. You have no idea how long you will the talent and ability. Good Luck to him and hope to see him grab the world record someday.
(11-06-2023, 05:22 PM)BobK Wrote: I was too sad and upset to post here Best to him.I wish he would have stuck around, but now days with the money that is out there for a man of his talent, take the money and run. You have no idea how long you will the talent and ability. Good Luck to him and hope to see him grab the world record someday.
11-06-2023, 08:12 PM
There's more money in football than in T&F, Udodi. And I'm sure there's be a spot either at DB or at WR on TT's roster where you can learn the ropes and showcase your talent. Just sayin'.
Seriously, though, while I'm sorry to see him go, I wish this young man the best of luck.
Seriously, though, while I'm sorry to see him go, I wish this young man the best of luck.
There's more money in football than in T&F, Udodi. And I'm sure there's be a spot either at DB or at WR on TT's roster where you can learn the ropes and showcase your talent. Just sayin'.
Seriously, though, while I'm sorry to see him go, I wish this young man the best of luck.
Seriously, though, while I'm sorry to see him go, I wish this young man the best of luck.
11-06-2023, 11:07 PM
Does this means he's dropping out of Stanford or at least taking some time away?
11-07-2023, 08:05 AM
I thought he had decided this a while ago, but maybe I am mixing his decision up with Hicks.
11-07-2023, 08:19 AM
(11-06-2023, 11:07 PM)Jamesy Wrote: Does this means he's dropping out of Stanford or at least taking some time away?
That seems like a distinction without a difference. He can always come back and finish up his degree, no?
I think it is great that he is going pro, as opposed to transferring.
11-07-2023, 08:57 AM
(11-06-2023, 08:12 PM)Madera86 Wrote: There's more money in football than in T&F, Udodi. And I'm sure there's be a spot either at DB or at WR on TT's roster where you can learn the ropes and showcase your talent. Just sayin'.
Seriously, though, while I'm sorry to see him go, I wish this young man the best of luck.
Micah Williams, the Oregon Duck who bested Udodi in the 100m and 200m at the 2022 Pac-12 championships and also took the 2023 100m Pac title, is on the football roster for the Ducks. He does not appear to have caught any passes, and I'm not sure if he's played in any games.
Anyway, best of luck to Udodi in his career as a pro. He'll always be a Stanford legend for winning that NCAA individual title in the 200m.
(11-06-2023, 08:12 PM)Madera86 Wrote: There's more money in football than in T&F, Udodi. And I'm sure there's be a spot either at DB or at WR on TT's roster where you can learn the ropes and showcase your talent. Just sayin'.
Seriously, though, while I'm sorry to see him go, I wish this young man the best of luck.
Micah Williams, the Oregon Duck who bested Udodi in the 100m and 200m at the 2022 Pac-12 championships and also took the 2023 100m Pac title, is on the football roster for the Ducks. He does not appear to have caught any passes, and I'm not sure if he's played in any games.
Anyway, best of luck to Udodi in his career as a pro. He'll always be a Stanford legend for winning that NCAA individual title in the 200m.
11-07-2023, 09:17 AM
Just wondering, roughly how much money might he expect to make as a pro track athlete?
11-07-2023, 09:59 AM
I’m aware of three track athletes at Stanford with NIL money. I believe none thru Stanford but other sources
No clue what a pro track athlete might make
No clue what a pro track athlete might make
11-07-2023, 10:06 AM
I'm guessing there's some Nigerian financial support flowing to Udodi, unsure whether that sort of thing is frowned upon for NCAA athletes.
[tweet] https://twitter.com/mtnchamps/status/171...0437189089 [/tweet]
[tweet] https://twitter.com/mtnchamps/status/171...0437189089 [/tweet]
I'm guessing there's some Nigerian financial support flowing to Udodi, unsure whether that sort of thing is frowned upon for NCAA athletes.
[tweet] https://twitter.com/mtnchamps/status/171...0437189089 [/tweet]
[tweet] https://twitter.com/mtnchamps/status/171...0437189089 [/tweet]
11-07-2023, 03:27 PM
Track & Field compensation is at least as complicated as the NCAA.
As an NCAA champion in a sprint event he likely would get some appearance fees and/or invitations to key meets around the world. It might approach six figures, but not much more. Olympic champions routinely are earning less than $250K. Some athletes are near celebrities in very wealthy countries, and therefore do OK with limited on track success.
The bigger reasons to move almost certainly are related to Nigeria and the relay team.
I would imagine that he has a decent chance to reach the 200M Olympic finals.
Not sure what Nigeria offers Olympians, but becoming an Olympic finalists in the 200M would maximize annual compensation and give access to key Diamond league events.
The USA's 4X100 is notorious for coming together very late and then winning gold or silver despite awful baton passes. Nigeria has just enough talent that they could win an Olympic medal with a touch of luck, and loads of training on baton passes. Leaving Stanford now presumably would give him a chance to join that 4X100 team. Nigeria would almost certainly make the 4X100 finals, so he would run between 2024 and 2028 as an "Olympic finalist" even if the 200M does not quite go as well as hoped.
Should that Nigerian team win a medal, or perhaps get silver or gold should other key countries suffer DQs, that could be valuable. As it is much easier to land in key meets as an "Olympic medalist". However, I don't think he could join that relay team if he is unavailable for team training prior to late June.
And then there is a simple idea that he just wants to do the best he can in the 2024 Olympics. The common wisdom now is that NCAA athletes are running in too many meets and events in the months before the Olympics to do well in the Olympics. The cumulative distance is presumably not a concern for a sprinter like Udodi, but each competition provides a risk of injuries that could jeopardize the health needed to excel in the Olympics.
As an NCAA champion in a sprint event he likely would get some appearance fees and/or invitations to key meets around the world. It might approach six figures, but not much more. Olympic champions routinely are earning less than $250K. Some athletes are near celebrities in very wealthy countries, and therefore do OK with limited on track success.
The bigger reasons to move almost certainly are related to Nigeria and the relay team.
I would imagine that he has a decent chance to reach the 200M Olympic finals.
Not sure what Nigeria offers Olympians, but becoming an Olympic finalists in the 200M would maximize annual compensation and give access to key Diamond league events.
The USA's 4X100 is notorious for coming together very late and then winning gold or silver despite awful baton passes. Nigeria has just enough talent that they could win an Olympic medal with a touch of luck, and loads of training on baton passes. Leaving Stanford now presumably would give him a chance to join that 4X100 team. Nigeria would almost certainly make the 4X100 finals, so he would run between 2024 and 2028 as an "Olympic finalist" even if the 200M does not quite go as well as hoped.
Should that Nigerian team win a medal, or perhaps get silver or gold should other key countries suffer DQs, that could be valuable. As it is much easier to land in key meets as an "Olympic medalist". However, I don't think he could join that relay team if he is unavailable for team training prior to late June.
And then there is a simple idea that he just wants to do the best he can in the 2024 Olympics. The common wisdom now is that NCAA athletes are running in too many meets and events in the months before the Olympics to do well in the Olympics. The cumulative distance is presumably not a concern for a sprinter like Udodi, but each competition provides a risk of injuries that could jeopardize the health needed to excel in the Olympics.
Track & Field compensation is at least as complicated as the NCAA.
As an NCAA champion in a sprint event he likely would get some appearance fees and/or invitations to key meets around the world. It might approach six figures, but not much more. Olympic champions routinely are earning less than $250K. Some athletes are near celebrities in very wealthy countries, and therefore do OK with limited on track success.
The bigger reasons to move almost certainly are related to Nigeria and the relay team.
I would imagine that he has a decent chance to reach the 200M Olympic finals.
Not sure what Nigeria offers Olympians, but becoming an Olympic finalists in the 200M would maximize annual compensation and give access to key Diamond league events.
The USA's 4X100 is notorious for coming together very late and then winning gold or silver despite awful baton passes. Nigeria has just enough talent that they could win an Olympic medal with a touch of luck, and loads of training on baton passes. Leaving Stanford now presumably would give him a chance to join that 4X100 team. Nigeria would almost certainly make the 4X100 finals, so he would run between 2024 and 2028 as an "Olympic finalist" even if the 200M does not quite go as well as hoped.
Should that Nigerian team win a medal, or perhaps get silver or gold should other key countries suffer DQs, that could be valuable. As it is much easier to land in key meets as an "Olympic medalist". However, I don't think he could join that relay team if he is unavailable for team training prior to late June.
And then there is a simple idea that he just wants to do the best he can in the 2024 Olympics. The common wisdom now is that NCAA athletes are running in too many meets and events in the months before the Olympics to do well in the Olympics. The cumulative distance is presumably not a concern for a sprinter like Udodi, but each competition provides a risk of injuries that could jeopardize the health needed to excel in the Olympics.
As an NCAA champion in a sprint event he likely would get some appearance fees and/or invitations to key meets around the world. It might approach six figures, but not much more. Olympic champions routinely are earning less than $250K. Some athletes are near celebrities in very wealthy countries, and therefore do OK with limited on track success.
The bigger reasons to move almost certainly are related to Nigeria and the relay team.
I would imagine that he has a decent chance to reach the 200M Olympic finals.
Not sure what Nigeria offers Olympians, but becoming an Olympic finalists in the 200M would maximize annual compensation and give access to key Diamond league events.
The USA's 4X100 is notorious for coming together very late and then winning gold or silver despite awful baton passes. Nigeria has just enough talent that they could win an Olympic medal with a touch of luck, and loads of training on baton passes. Leaving Stanford now presumably would give him a chance to join that 4X100 team. Nigeria would almost certainly make the 4X100 finals, so he would run between 2024 and 2028 as an "Olympic finalist" even if the 200M does not quite go as well as hoped.
Should that Nigerian team win a medal, or perhaps get silver or gold should other key countries suffer DQs, that could be valuable. As it is much easier to land in key meets as an "Olympic medalist". However, I don't think he could join that relay team if he is unavailable for team training prior to late June.
And then there is a simple idea that he just wants to do the best he can in the 2024 Olympics. The common wisdom now is that NCAA athletes are running in too many meets and events in the months before the Olympics to do well in the Olympics. The cumulative distance is presumably not a concern for a sprinter like Udodi, but each competition provides a risk of injuries that could jeopardize the health needed to excel in the Olympics.
11-07-2023, 04:54 PM
I suspect Ky Robinson leaving or going pro is next. The Australian Olympic trials are in April
11-07-2023, 05:58 PM
Farm93, very sincere thank you for a really informative post that answers a lot of questions I’ve been wondering about my favorite Stanford athlete. Now I just have to convince the wife to go to the 2024 Olympics and not just wait for 2028.
11-07-2023, 09:19 PM
Best of luck to Udodi...go chase your dream! And one day, come back to Stanford and inspire another generation of students to do the same...
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