2019 Track & Field Roster
Roster
Ogbonnia, Otito

Otito Ogbonnia
- Position:
- Throws
- Height:
- 6-4
- Class:
- Freshman
- Hometown:
- Houston, Texas
- High School:
- James E. Taylor
Bio
2020
Did not compete this past season.
2019
Competed in 13 meets after transferring over from football โฆ Indoor: His best indoor throw in the shot put came at the MPSF Indoor Championships, where he placed seventh with an effort of 18.38m (60-3.75) โฆ Finished sixth at the Don Kirby Elite Invitational, posting a mark of 17.81m (58-5.25) โฆ Outdoor: Won the shot put in his Bruin outdoor debut with a mark of 18.09m (59-4.25) at the Willie Williams Classic โฆ Logged his first discus mark at the Aztec Invitational, ultimately finishing fourth with a toss of 52.37m (171-10) โฆ Reached 19 meters for the first time at the Jim Bush Legends Invitational, recording 19.21m (62-0.25) to finish third โฆ PRโed in the discus at USC, posting 55.73m (182-10) to take second โฆ Also placed second in the shot put at 19.42m (63-8.75) โฆ Came in clutch at the Pac-12 Championships, hitting a PR in the shot put with a mark of 19.59m (64-3.25) to finish fourth โฆ Also scored in the discus, finishing eighth with an effort of 53.22m (174-7) โฆ Finished 11th in the shot put (19.12m; 62-8.75) and 22nd in the discus (53.96m; 177-0) at the NCAA West Regionals โฆ Competed in the shot put at the NCAA Championships, placing 10th with a mark of 19.44m (63-9.5) โฆ USTF: Won the shot put at the USTF U20 Championships in Miramar, Fla., with a mark of 21.42m (70-3.5), a UCLA record for the six-kilogram shot put โฆ Also placed third in the discus with a mark of 56.90m (186-8).
High School
Graduated from James E. Taylor High School in Katy, Texas โฆ A standout thrower, Ogbonnia was the top nationally ranked shot-put thrower in 2017 for his class โฆ Won every shot put competition as a senior โฆ. Ended his prep career by winning two state titles in the shot put and discus at the Texas UIL 6A State Championships โฆ Top shot put in high school was 66 feet, one inch โฆ Landed a high school PR in the discus at 187 feet, 11 inches โฆ A two-time All-District selection, Ogbonnia was rated as the No. 38 defensive tackle recruit in the country and No. 86 football recruit in the state of Texas according to 247 Sports โฆ ESPNโs No. 44 defensive tackle prospect in the nation and No. 81 football recruit in Texas โฆ As a junior, recorded 61 tackles and 10 tackles for loss, as well as four sacks โฆ During his senior campaign, Ogbonnia posted 68 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, five sacks and two forced fumbles โฆ Eclipsed the 60-tackle plateau two straight seasons, totaling 34 stops behind the line of scrimmage in his final two varsity seasons โฆ Earned 2017 Area High School All-Academic Honors.
ย
Personal
Born in Houston, Texas, to Dr. SKC Ogbonnia and Nneka Ogbonnia โฆ Nigerian descent โฆ Has one brother (Anaeze) and two sisters (Chizie, Mili) โฆ Two of his siblings (Anaeze, Chizie) attend Texas Tech โฆ Served as a acolyte at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Houston until he graduated high school โฆ Admires Aaron Donald of the NFL โฆ Hobbies include fixing things and cooking.
Did not compete this past season.
2019
Competed in 13 meets after transferring over from football โฆ Indoor: His best indoor throw in the shot put came at the MPSF Indoor Championships, where he placed seventh with an effort of 18.38m (60-3.75) โฆ Finished sixth at the Don Kirby Elite Invitational, posting a mark of 17.81m (58-5.25) โฆ Outdoor: Won the shot put in his Bruin outdoor debut with a mark of 18.09m (59-4.25) at the Willie Williams Classic โฆ Logged his first discus mark at the Aztec Invitational, ultimately finishing fourth with a toss of 52.37m (171-10) โฆ Reached 19 meters for the first time at the Jim Bush Legends Invitational, recording 19.21m (62-0.25) to finish third โฆ PRโed in the discus at USC, posting 55.73m (182-10) to take second โฆ Also placed second in the shot put at 19.42m (63-8.75) โฆ Came in clutch at the Pac-12 Championships, hitting a PR in the shot put with a mark of 19.59m (64-3.25) to finish fourth โฆ Also scored in the discus, finishing eighth with an effort of 53.22m (174-7) โฆ Finished 11th in the shot put (19.12m; 62-8.75) and 22nd in the discus (53.96m; 177-0) at the NCAA West Regionals โฆ Competed in the shot put at the NCAA Championships, placing 10th with a mark of 19.44m (63-9.5) โฆ USTF: Won the shot put at the USTF U20 Championships in Miramar, Fla., with a mark of 21.42m (70-3.5), a UCLA record for the six-kilogram shot put โฆ Also placed third in the discus with a mark of 56.90m (186-8).
High School
Graduated from James E. Taylor High School in Katy, Texas โฆ A standout thrower, Ogbonnia was the top nationally ranked shot-put thrower in 2017 for his class โฆ Won every shot put competition as a senior โฆ. Ended his prep career by winning two state titles in the shot put and discus at the Texas UIL 6A State Championships โฆ Top shot put in high school was 66 feet, one inch โฆ Landed a high school PR in the discus at 187 feet, 11 inches โฆ A two-time All-District selection, Ogbonnia was rated as the No. 38 defensive tackle recruit in the country and No. 86 football recruit in the state of Texas according to 247 Sports โฆ ESPNโs No. 44 defensive tackle prospect in the nation and No. 81 football recruit in Texas โฆ As a junior, recorded 61 tackles and 10 tackles for loss, as well as four sacks โฆ During his senior campaign, Ogbonnia posted 68 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, five sacks and two forced fumbles โฆ Eclipsed the 60-tackle plateau two straight seasons, totaling 34 stops behind the line of scrimmage in his final two varsity seasons โฆ Earned 2017 Area High School All-Academic Honors.
ย
Personal
Born in Houston, Texas, to Dr. SKC Ogbonnia and Nneka Ogbonnia โฆ Nigerian descent โฆ Has one brother (Anaeze) and two sisters (Chizie, Mili) โฆ Two of his siblings (Anaeze, Chizie) attend Texas Tech โฆ Served as a acolyte at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Houston until he graduated high school โฆ Admires Aaron Donald of the NFL โฆ Hobbies include fixing things and cooking.
UCLA New Director of Track & Field: Joanna Hayes
Friday, June 21
UCLA New Director of Track & Field: Joanna Hayes
Friday, June 21
UCLA Track & Field Jim Bush Legends Invite (April 13, 2024)
Wednesday, April 17
powHER of the Pac: UCLA's Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Monday, June 27