Jacob Onik grew up admiring a series of star defensive ends at Lincoln-Way East, including a trio of standouts who went on to play in the Big Ten — Devin O’Rourke and Gage LaDere at Northwestern and Jacob Alexander at Illinois.
Onik knows that, compared to those high school stars, he’s not the prototypical defensive lineman. He played linebacker last season before transitioning to defensive end this fall as a senior.
But he sure has the knowledge to play the position after studying those past Griffins.
“I’m not the biggest guy to be playing D-line, but I love it and I love following in those guys’ footsteps,” Onik said. “Those were some of the best players in the state, and we’ve looked up to those guys since we were young kids.
“I learned everything from those guys. You learn how to lead a team and you learn how to take over a game and have a dominant performance.”
Onik delivered another dominant performance Friday night. He had two of Lincoln-Way East’s four sacks as the Griffins harassed Lockport quarterback Griffin Russell
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all night on their way to clinching the SouthWest Suburban Conference title with a 40-0 win over the host Porters.Jimeto Okafor also had two sacks for Lincoln-Way East (8-0, 6-0), while Central Michigan recruit Charlie Palmer and Nate Walenga each produced an interception. Cameron Stewart also brought constant pressure from his spot at defensive end.
“We knew they were going to pass a lot and we were excited for it,” Stewart said. “Me and Jacob are the captains of the D-line and we want to get in the backfield as fast as we can.
“Jacob’s definitely improved. He’s stepped up a lot.”
Evan LeFevour completed 11 of 17 passes for 138 yards and three touchdowns and ran for a 14-yard TD for the Griffins, while Aidan Cavanaugh produced 78 yards and a TD on eight carries.
Jake Manzo had an interception for Lockport (4-4, 4-2). Russell completed 12 of 29 passes for 182 yards.
Onik, meanwhile, prides himself on being a multidimensional defensive end. Yes, he can rush the quarterback, as he showed against the Porters. But that’s not necessarily his bread and butter.
“I try to use my speed to make up for my lack of size,” said Onik, who is 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds. “I try to use my speed to get at the quarterback. But I’m still a run-stopper at heart from my days as a linebacker, so I think being able to stop the run helps my team a lot, too.”
Lincoln-Way East coach Rob Zvonar certainly appreciates what Onik is doing.
“I’m very proud of Jacob,” Zvonar said. “He was our starting middle linebacker last year and we’d love to still have him at linebacker, but we were a little short on defensive linemen.
“We knew putting him there, we’d have a kid who was athletic enough to beat some offensive linemen and be a productive pass rusher and he’s doing a great job.”
The Griffins rolled to a 26-0 halftime lead behind the dominant defense and three TD passes from LeFevour.
It was the third shutout in a row for a Lincoln-Way East defense that might not have the star power of recent years but is definitely getting the job done.
“Going into the season, there was a lot of talk against us,” Onik said. “The fact that we’re coming out here and able to win these games and dominate like this, we’re building a lot of momentum and I think we’re going to keep going.”
The way Onik sees it, he was always destined to play football for the Griffins.
“I’ve been surrounded by football my whole life,” he said. “I started in fourth grade because everyone else in school played. All my friends play.
“It’s what everyone in the community does.”
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