Photo by: Thomas Campbell/Texas A&M Athletics
Overcoming All Obstacles
Nov 13, 2018 | Football
Texas A&M linebacker Otaro Alaka has stuttered his entire life. His grandfather also stuttered, so Alaka's mother never showed concern.
"My father overcame his stammering sometime in university," Ethel Alaka said. "He died three years ago, but when you heard him speak, you would never believe he had that kind of problem. He said he had to master it, so I've always used that to encourage Otaro, because I know it's hereditary. He will be fine, and he's much better now."
Alaka's stuttering shows up most often during public speaking or postgame interviews. Anytime he's nervous.
Alaka's first press conference came in the final game of his freshman season when the linebacker earned defensive MVP honors in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in 2014. Alaka's brother sent video of the interview, making fun of Otaro, who played along.
"I just learned to laugh at myself," Alaka said. "At a young age, I've always laughed. I just have that sense of humor where it didn't really get to me. Whenever they laugh at me, I come back with a crack and laugh it down."
Alaka took a speech class his sophomore year, one of his tougher classes. He made a B, arguing among other things that colleges should pay student-athletes.
Listening to Alaka now, it's hard to hear a speech impediment.
"It's funny, because a lot of people don't know," Alaka said. "When I tell them, they're like, 'What?' Because they never even noticed. Progressively, over the years, it's just gotten better."
Alaka has overcome.
He has overcome his stuttering.
He has overcome his kindness.
He has overcome a shoulder injury.
He has overcome head coaching changes, defensive coordinator changes, scheme changes and position changes.
Five years after he arrived in College Station, Alaka will leave with the respect of Aggie fans and his degree in supply chain management from the Mays Business School.
A&M will honor Alaka and its 16 other seniors during Senior Day on Saturday at Kyle Field. Alaka will play his final home game a week later against LSU and then receive his diploma next month.
"It's been an eventful five years," said Femi Alaka, Otaro's father. "I'm very proud of him. We've always set fairly high expectations for him. At the beginning of his college career, I was a little anxious I guess would be the right word, because he can be quite playful. So I said to myself, 'Now that he's going to be on his own, is he going to have the discipline and the focus to do what needs to be done and to do it timely?' By and large, he has done that. I have had very few sleepless nights worrying about him."
Alaka committed to the University of Texas for eight months before switching to A&M close to signing day in 2014. The Cypress Falls graduate, a four-star prospect, ranked as the 11th outside linebacker nationally.
He has never regretted his change of heart, calling it the "right decision."
"Even when I committed to Texas, it was still between A&M and Texas," Alaka said. "I still had A&M in the back of my mind. Toward the end of the [2013] season, Mack Brown got fired, and I was there when he let the team know. A couple of us recruits were there. He told the team, and then he turned to us and said, 'You guys feel free to take your visits.' I already had a school in the back of my mind obviously. I took one visit to A&M, and I switched over."
Alaka's mother, who immigrated to the U.S. from her native Nigeria to work for Shell Oil, never has figured out how her son has become so good at his chosen sport in his chosen position at his chosen school. Alaka leads the Aggies with 64 tackles in 10 games.
"Sometimes I really can't believe that he's a linebacker," Ethel Alaka said. "He's such a gentle person by nature, and he was a gentle child. So when he started playing football in high school, they made him play this position, and he was very good at it. It came as a shock to everybody who knew him. 'How do you do that? You're so gentle? At the same time, you're so aggressive on the field? How do you switch?' It's amazing."
Alaka contributed as a true freshman at A&M, making 33 tackles in 12 games, but a shoulder injury that required surgery cut short his sophomore season. The NCAA granted him a medical redshirt after he played only three games in 2015.
It meant a fifth season of eligibility.
In his time at A&M, Alaka played for two head coaches and three defensive coordinators. He manned every linebacker position during his career.
Alaka leaves Aggieland, knowing the future of the program is in good hands. He and the other seniors on the Wrecking Crew leave it better than they found it.
He leaves a better player, too, hoping his skill set translates to the NFL.
"I've grown a lot," Alaka said. "I can just remember my freshman year being out there, thrown in there early and not really knowing what to do. I was just kind of running around out there, doing kind of whatever. Now, I think about how I've really changed and how I see the game differently, and I'm out there more comfortable now. It's definitely been a big change."
Dane Brugler, a draft analyst for The Athletic, said Alaka is a "solid college linebacker; physical downhill; borderline draftable due to space issues."
But Alaka only needs an opportunity, whether as a draft pick or an undrafted free agent. He always finds a way to overcome all obstacles.
"My father overcame his stammering sometime in university," Ethel Alaka said. "He died three years ago, but when you heard him speak, you would never believe he had that kind of problem. He said he had to master it, so I've always used that to encourage Otaro, because I know it's hereditary. He will be fine, and he's much better now."
Alaka's stuttering shows up most often during public speaking or postgame interviews. Anytime he's nervous.
Alaka's first press conference came in the final game of his freshman season when the linebacker earned defensive MVP honors in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in 2014. Alaka's brother sent video of the interview, making fun of Otaro, who played along.
"I just learned to laugh at myself," Alaka said. "At a young age, I've always laughed. I just have that sense of humor where it didn't really get to me. Whenever they laugh at me, I come back with a crack and laugh it down."
Alaka took a speech class his sophomore year, one of his tougher classes. He made a B, arguing among other things that colleges should pay student-athletes.
Listening to Alaka now, it's hard to hear a speech impediment.
"It's funny, because a lot of people don't know," Alaka said. "When I tell them, they're like, 'What?' Because they never even noticed. Progressively, over the years, it's just gotten better."
Alaka has overcome.
He has overcome his stuttering.
He has overcome his kindness.
He has overcome a shoulder injury.
He has overcome head coaching changes, defensive coordinator changes, scheme changes and position changes.
Five years after he arrived in College Station, Alaka will leave with the respect of Aggie fans and his degree in supply chain management from the Mays Business School.
A&M will honor Alaka and its 16 other seniors during Senior Day on Saturday at Kyle Field. Alaka will play his final home game a week later against LSU and then receive his diploma next month.
"It's been an eventful five years," said Femi Alaka, Otaro's father. "I'm very proud of him. We've always set fairly high expectations for him. At the beginning of his college career, I was a little anxious I guess would be the right word, because he can be quite playful. So I said to myself, 'Now that he's going to be on his own, is he going to have the discipline and the focus to do what needs to be done and to do it timely?' By and large, he has done that. I have had very few sleepless nights worrying about him."
CHANGE, CHANGE AND MORE CHANGE
Alaka committed to the University of Texas for eight months before switching to A&M close to signing day in 2014. The Cypress Falls graduate, a four-star prospect, ranked as the 11th outside linebacker nationally.He has never regretted his change of heart, calling it the "right decision."
"Even when I committed to Texas, it was still between A&M and Texas," Alaka said. "I still had A&M in the back of my mind. Toward the end of the [2013] season, Mack Brown got fired, and I was there when he let the team know. A couple of us recruits were there. He told the team, and then he turned to us and said, 'You guys feel free to take your visits.' I already had a school in the back of my mind obviously. I took one visit to A&M, and I switched over."
Alaka's mother, who immigrated to the U.S. from her native Nigeria to work for Shell Oil, never has figured out how her son has become so good at his chosen sport in his chosen position at his chosen school. Alaka leads the Aggies with 64 tackles in 10 games.
"Sometimes I really can't believe that he's a linebacker," Ethel Alaka said. "He's such a gentle person by nature, and he was a gentle child. So when he started playing football in high school, they made him play this position, and he was very good at it. It came as a shock to everybody who knew him. 'How do you do that? You're so gentle? At the same time, you're so aggressive on the field? How do you switch?' It's amazing."
Alaka contributed as a true freshman at A&M, making 33 tackles in 12 games, but a shoulder injury that required surgery cut short his sophomore season. The NCAA granted him a medical redshirt after he played only three games in 2015.
It meant a fifth season of eligibility.
In his time at A&M, Alaka played for two head coaches and three defensive coordinators. He manned every linebacker position during his career.
Alaka leaves Aggieland, knowing the future of the program is in good hands. He and the other seniors on the Wrecking Crew leave it better than they found it.
He leaves a better player, too, hoping his skill set translates to the NFL.
"I've grown a lot," Alaka said. "I can just remember my freshman year being out there, thrown in there early and not really knowing what to do. I was just kind of running around out there, doing kind of whatever. Now, I think about how I've really changed and how I see the game differently, and I'm out there more comfortable now. It's definitely been a big change."
Dane Brugler, a draft analyst for The Athletic, said Alaka is a "solid college linebacker; physical downhill; borderline draftable due to space issues."
But Alaka only needs an opportunity, whether as a draft pick or an undrafted free agent. He always finds a way to overcome all obstacles.
Players Mentioned
LB
/ FootballArkansas Postgame: Mike Elko
Saturday, October 18
Arkansas Postgame: Marcus Ratcliffe
Saturday, October 18
Arkansas Postgame: Ashton Bethel-Roman
Saturday, October 18
Highlights: A&M 45, Arkansas 42
Saturday, October 18
