Early Enrollee Q&A: Get to know defensive end Nelson Mbanasor

We continue our Early Enrolle Q&A with Pflugerville (TX) Hendrickson defensive end Nelson Mbanasor. The 2x first team All-District selection committed to the Red Raiders in October after spending the first few months of his recruitment committed to Oklahoma State. He held 24 offers.

Get to know Nelson Mbanasor below…

Tell me something about yourself that might surprise people.

“I don’t know, but I’m a pretty good cook I would say. A lot of people don’t know that. My favorite dish is probably lasagna.”

Who is your favorite football player of all time, and who do you model your game after?

“I’d say Calais Campbell is my favorite. I model my game after Robert Quinn, the defensive lineman who plays for the Los Angeles Rams.”

Your most memorable moment from your high school football career?

“My very first varsity game.”

Did you ever have an embarrassing moment playing football?

“It happened this year, actually. It was a QB zone-read, and he faked like he was handing off to the running back, and he actually kept the ball. I wrapped him up, but I thought he gave the ball off, so I let him go. He picked up a few extra yards. That was pretty embarrassing.”

When did you first realize that you had the potential to be an FBS football player?

“I actually knew I was going to be a Division 1 football player way back in middle school. My first middle school game in 7th grade. I knew from there that I had the chance to go D-1. I was more athletic than everybody else even though I was bigger than them. Nobody could really stop me and that is when I knew.”

What are you looking forward to the most when you head to Texas Tech?

“Just linking up with the other early enrollees and forming better relationships with them. I’m ready to get to work on the football side of it.”

What's the most unique thing a coach said or did during your recruitment?

“On my Tech official, me and KP (Kevin Patrick) actually raced on a bouncy house obstacle course thing. He cheated and beat me.”

What was it that made you think, "Tech is the place for me" ?

“There were just all these different signs that kept popping up. I would be driving and be behind a car with a Texas Tech sticker on it or see somebody with Tech stuff. Things like that. My relationship with KP was also big.”

What was your favorite moment during the recruiting process?

“I think my favorite moment was getting my first offer from Bowling Green.”

What was the worst part about the process?

“The worst part was having to de-commit from Oklahoma State. I had committed too early and then going through the de-commitment kind of wore me down.”

What school would you have chosen had you not signed with the Red Raiders?

“My dream school was Boise State, and the only reason they didn’t offer me was because I had committed to Oklahoma State originally. If it wasn’t Texas Tech, it was going to be Boise State.”

Do you have a nickname?

“People call me ‘Spitta.’ In middle school, I was a rapper. I would say I was a rapper and that is what they called me. I was not good at all, though.”

What person, dead or alive, would you like to have dinner with?

“I’d say LeBron James.”

Would you rather fight 100 duck-sized horses or one horse-sized duck?

“I’m going to go with one horse-sized duck. When I beat it, I could cook it and eat it, and it would be a pretty good meal. I could save it and eat that thing for a long time.”

What is your favorite movie?

“My favorite movie is Concussion.”

Have you decided what you want to major in at Tech yet?

“Accounting.”

What number would you like to wear at Tech and why is that number significant to you?

“I want to wear No. 40. I’ve worn that throughout my whole high school career, and I’m hoping I can stick with it.”

What position will you be playing at Texas Tech?

“Defensive end.”

What is a personal strength that you will bring to the table at Tech?

“I feel like my high motor and my use of hands will be beneficial to the team. I’ve learned a lot that I’m excited to bring to the team when I get there.”

What is the one thing that you need to work on in order to play at the next level?

“I’d say consistency and going 100 percent every play.”

Do you expect to redshirt this season?

“No I do not. I see the lack of depth and size as a major reason.”

What do you want your legacy to be when you leave Texas Tech?

“I want to be viewed as the guy who came in early and got to work right away. I want to be known as the guy who had a great career from the minute I stepped on campus to the end.”