Dayton natives at Combine share same rooting interest

Chunky Clements and Ifeadi Odenigbo have more in common other than unusual first names and being the only two Dayton natives at the NFL Combine.

Despite growing up in Cincinnati Bengals territory, both players cast their loyalty to a team far from home, the San Diego Chargers.

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“I remember watching LaDainian Tomlinson just run that rock in the seventh or eighth grade, and I was like, ‘Dude, that guy’s sick,’” said Odenigbo, a defensive end from Northwestern and Centerville High School graduate. “That guy just made really get excited about football. I remember him with the tinted visor and breaking tackles.”

Clements, a and defensive tackle from Illinois and Trotwood Madison grad, said he wasn’t so much picking a team to root for, but one to cheer against.

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“I liked the Chargers because my dad loved the Raiders,” he said. “So I liked the Chargers just to get at him a little bit when I was younger.”

The Chargers aren’t in San Diego any more, having relocated to Los Angeles this offseason, but that doesn’t matter much to Clements and Odenigbo because they’re both about to have new favorite after next month’s NFL Draft.

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