Djonkam feels a deep sense of gratitude to be a Sun Devil

While there may not be too many consist themes in the world of college recruits, one aspect has seemingly stood the test of time, and that is the profound appreciation junior college prospects have when they are pursued by a power five program and ultimately do get to sign with that university.

And when it comes to one of Arizona State’s late additions in the 2022 class, Independence (Kan.) Community College linebacker James Djonkam that familiar narrative is part of his recruiting process with ASU. What may be somewhat rare though, is when Djonkam received that initial phone call from the Sun Devils, a conversation that naturally represented a dramatic shift in how he was weighing his future college decision.

“They (ASU) actually called me around June 2nd, while I was on a visit to La Tech,” Djonkam recalled, “and I didn’t a great experience on that visit, and it was just was a blessing from God that they really contacted me. I was really getting ready to commit there because I had options, but I also had no options that I felt like were a good fit for me at that point. A lot of schools wanted me to play defensive end, a stand up rusher and I really wanted to play outside linebacker and inside linebacker.

“My decision was really up for grabs between Auburn and ASU. But Auburn wanted me as an edge rusher. And they also wanted me to come in a little bit later than ASU. On top of that, they were bringing me in to really be a second/ third string kind of player try to get into the rotation, and then next year start. Whereas ASU was telling me that I have a really high chance of starting this year. Coming out of JUCO, my main objective was getting on the field as fast as I can to truly show everyone what I can do.”

Standing at 6-4 250 lbs. Djonkam is two inches taller and over 30 pounds heavier than the average NFL linebacker. And perhaps you can’t blame coaches on various staffs wanting a player with a classic defensive end frame to actually assume that role in a D-I school. Yet, Djonkam has always been steadfast in his desire to play a linebacker role he genuinely feels fits not only his skills but his overall football philosophy.

“Growing up, the main aspect of my game is really being able to be in the middle of the field or being in that secondary (line) position,” Djonkam explained, “where I can make up for the mistakes of the linemen and be more mobile and not restricted to one side of the field. Playing linebacker has always been beneficial for me. In my senior year of high school, I would average about 22 tackles flying from sideline to sideline, and that’s the kind of player I wanted to be like. Be a Luke Kuechly, Ray Lewis type of player. Those are the type of people I looked up to, and it’s always been my dream to play linebacker. I’m not saying I’d be settling playing that edge rush position because, don’t get me wrong, going after the QB is very fun. I love doing that. But that’s more one aspect of my game more than it is my whole game.”

As one of the defensive leaders at Independence CC, Djonkam tallied 64 tackles, including 12.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks, along with three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in his lone season with the Pirates. The linebacker arrives in Tempe with three years of eligibility and can still redshirt if needed.

“Arizona State has brought me in as a strong side outside linebacker,” Djonkam stated, “and when (Kyle) Soelle they will move me inside. That’s what (defensive coordinator) coach Donnie (Henderson) told me. He’s the first (ASU) coach I talked to, and the main thing I loved about him was how straight up he was. He told me, ‘Hey man, we looked at the JUCO portal to see who’s available to come and play right now. They recruited me the best way because a lot of these coaches just saw one of the teams in their conference offering me, so boom, they offer without really getting to know me, my drive my attitude towards the game.

“Coach Donnie took the time to talk to me for hours on the phone getting to know me and my story. I talked to him about everything in my life going through junior college and how I felt I’ve been overlooked, always a plan B for the majority of coaches versus looking at me like I’m a dog, a player they want on their team, no matter. That’s the love I felt from ASU, and it was really a no-brainer once coach Donnie contacted me.”

Injuries during his senior year of high school at West Springfield in Virginia and a prep school he attended a year later derailed any aspirations by the linebacker to play at the D-I level. Unsatisfied with lower division offers, Djonkam embarked on the junior college route. However, while more offers landed in his lap, Djonkam was still plenty ambitious to set his sights higher.

“In my opinion, I felt like I was the hardest worker on the team, if not in the whole conference,” Djonkam remarked. “I felt that I had at least worked hard enough for a power five offer. That entire (2021) season, I didn’t get an offer until UTSA offered me, and even though they weren’t a power five schools, it was still an established ranked school. And I was really going to commit there. But then they decided they wanted to go with someone else in the transfer portal and pulled my offer.

“So, I ended up going back to Independence for spring ball. And with going back to Independence, the coaches that offered me caught the drift that their school wasn’t the school for me, and they pulled all of their offers. When I went back to junior college, I was starting from zero. So, schools started offering me after spring ball, and that’s when I got that La. Tech offer. But on the visit, I just I didn’t feel this team was really motivated to win. I wanted to be somewhere where everyone on the team is going to push me. I want a coach who is going to push me and train me to be the best player and the best person I could be. I didn’t feel that on the visit. So, when I got that call from coach Donnie, it was something that I prayed for every night.”

That aforementioned first conversation between Djonkam and Henderson led to a pledge by the linebacker without setting foot on campus for a visit. Nonetheless, spending the last several weeks as an ASU newcomer only offered formidable validation for his commitment.

“It’s great to be a Sun Devil,” Djonkam said. “I’ve been living the dream without a doubt. You hear all these people going from JUCO to D-I saying, ‘Man, you won’t believe it…they give you free food, they got the cold tub, you got your own locker… I’ve never been more grateful for something in my life than this. The coaches took me under their wing. Coach Donnie told me that anytime I need to study the playbook to call him or come to his office. All the coaches have been so welcoming and willing to help me…there are no words to explain it. This is a blessing from God, without a doubt. I just can’t wait to get on the field and really show coach Donnie, show coach Herm why I’m the player that they took a risk on, took a chance on because I’m gonna help this team be the best in the conference.”

Djonkam’s approach and drive would certainly be welcomed on any team. Suffice to say though, that the sentiments the linebacker is expressing fit hand in glove on a 2022 ASU team that collectively wants to simultaneously rewards their coaches’ faith in them as well as defy some prognosticators who believe the Sun Devils are about to duplicate a nearly 30-year low in total wins.

“We have that little tweet posted on our board in the weight room, where they say we will win three games,” Djonkam noted. “I have never heard anything more disrespectful. But it’s okay because we will prove everybody wrong. We got some new cats in here who are ready to play and who are ready to tear up the Pac-12. The coaches have brought together a great group, and I know we’re gonna do something special this season.”

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