With silver-framed glasses and a wide smile, Osawese Agbonkonkon’s Texas journey is just getting started.
He may not be wearing a cape, but when he launches himself over the high jump bar, it’s easy to think he may just be flying.
The sophomore hit the seven-foot mark in high school and was recruited to the University of Oregon, where he spent his freshman year. He did not return to Eugene last fall, instead focusing on training and entering the portal. Now, the Frisco local finds himself back in Texas, down Interstate 35, in Austin.
“Coming home (to Texas) was definitely a pull,” Agbonkonkon said. “But, the history and tradition of the University of Texas, especially when it comes to athletics, is something that I personally value a lot. Of course, coach (Jim) Garnham (who is) one of the best in the country (and) has coached elite athletes in all of his events was another pull.”
Agbonkonkon had his first day of classes on the Forty Acres on Jan. 2, just 15 days before his first meet as a Longhorn. He joined assistant coach Jim Garnham’s high-jumping group as the 2025 indoor season got underway.
“It was a really fast turnaround,” Garnham said. “He messaged me sometime in December saying he got in the (transfer) portal and had jumped seven feet and that he wanted to come to Texas. And I was like, ‘Well, let’s make it happen.’”
Agbonkonkon is not your prototypical division one student-athlete. As much as he likes to compete, he’s also a devoted intellectual.
In fact, last year, Agbonkonkon self-published a 318-page novel based on childhood superhero tales.
“He’s extremely intelligent — athletically and academically,” Garnham said. “He wants to be a student of the game, of the high jump. He’s just always trying to learn, which is a good thing … He’s on the right path.”
Agbonkonkon joined senior Sam Hurley and junior Dylan Lineberger as the primary Texas men’s high jumpers, already forming connections through competitiveness, excellence and a little bit of trash talk thrown between.
“(The three of us have) friendly competition during practice, but it’s just a result of me, Sam and him being so competitive in playing other sports growing up,” Lineberger said. “We try to push each other as much as possible. … Then once we get to the track meets, we’re just helping each other out — it’s us versus the competition, not us versus each other.”
So far, Agbonkonkon has participated in four meets, although a knee issue in recent weeks has limited his productivity. He will partake in the Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships this weekend, representing Texas on the conference stage for the first time.
“I love it (here),” Agbonkonkon said. “From the academic side to the athletics to even just the way we train, (I am) definitely happy to be a Texas Longhorn.”
