The Washington Commanders added more depth to their pass rush by signing veteran Charles Omenihu. Here are five things to know about the newest defensive lineman.

1. He transformed his body in college.

Omenihu is joining the Commanders with a hulking 6-foot-5, 280-pound frame, but that wasn't always the case. He came to the University of Texas much thinner, and he knew that needed to change in order to square up against college-level offensive tackles.

So, that's exactly what he did.

"You know, I'm so proud of Charles," former teammate Malik Jefferson told the *San Antonio Express-News* in 2017. "He worked really hard to be where he is now."

Omenihu's transformation was a gradual one. He arrived at Texas weighing 230 but put on 25 pounds by the end of his sophomore year. Then, when Tom Herman took over the program in 2017, he began working with strength and conditioning coach Yancy McKnight and defensive line coach Oscar Giles. Their main advice for Omenihu: work out, eat as much as possible and repeat.

That did the trick. Omenihu weighed in at 275 during his senior season, and the extra size gave him a much-needed benefit up front. He recorded 13.5 sacks in his final two seasons to go with 25 tackles for loss and 73 total stops.

"I can really just thank coach McKnight," Omenihu said. "Starting in the offseason, he really just transformed my body, allowed me to play with a lot more power, a lot more strength. Our offseason program really helped me develop."

2. He has a seven-foot wingspan.

It's never easy to rush the passer in the NFL, but it certainly helps if offensive linemen can't touch you.

That's the issue players face when they match up against Omenihu. The former Longhorn put together a strong combine performance in Indianapolis, but his arms were what really made him stand out. They measured at 36 inches, which was the second-longest at the combine that year by only one-quarter of an inch.

So, from one fingertip to the next, Omenihu has a seven-foot wingspan that makes it much easier for him to win matchups at the line of scrimmage.

"Separation," Omenihu said at Texas’ pro day in 2019. "If you can't touch me, you can't block me."

Omenihu's senior season offered a look at how hard it can be to block him. He was the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year for leading the conference in sacks with 18 stops for a loss.

3. An update on his knee.

Omenihu had a career performance in 2023 after he signed with the Chiefs. He recorded seven sacks with 11 quarterback hits, and he sacked Lamar Jackson in the AFC Championship.

Omenihu tore his ACL moments later, however, which forced him to miss the team's Super Bowl win and a significant portion of the 2024 season. Recovery from such an injury can be mentally and physically trying, but Omenihu kept a positive attitude throughout the process.

"Honestly, right now, I'm steady, I'm cool," Omenihu said. "I got to be like this. I kind of keep myself like that, just stay plain, and we'll get to the point where I ramp it up like that."

Omenihu didn't return to the lineup until Week 13 of the 2024 season, although he was only used in a reserve role. He started to look more like himself in the playoffs, when he sacked C.J. Stroud in a 23-14 win over the Houston Texans. Last season was even more of a return to form, as he racked up 3.5 sacks and 28 tackles.

Now, it appears that Omenihu is perfectly healthy, as he told local reporters that his knee is "perfectly fine."

"I feel great. I think, two years removed now, any small...hiccups here or there will be gone," Omenihu said. "You got some time before the season starts to really iron out anything else. But overall, I feel great -- just as good or even better than before I got hurt."

4. He earned Chris Jones' respect.

Jones spent three seasons with Omenihu, so the likely future Hall of Fame defensive tackle has a good measure of Omenihu's skill set and personality. What Jones has seen is enough to give him his seal of approval.

"Charles, we can utilize Charles in multiple sets for us," Jones said last season. "He can be a great asset for us, especially in the long run and the playoff. He can play defensive end and defensive tackle when he puts his mind to it. We have to keep Charles in good spirits and keep him going."

Omenihu was only used in a reserve role in 2025, but he still managed to tie a career high in tackles. Pro Football Focus also gave him the best run defense grade of his career with a 75, thanks to 16 forced negative plays for opposing offenses and just five missed tackles all season.

If Omenihu can earn Jones' respect, he should have an easy time winning over his teammates in Washington.

5. He brings style to game days.

Omenihu follows the old saying of "look good, play good" before game days. He's certainly mastered the first part over the years.

"I think I'm one of the most stylish people in the business," Omenihu said in a video posted on the Chiefs’ website.

Omenihu puts serious thought into his pregame attire and has worn some elaborate outfits in his career. His rationale is that he wants to "represent myself in a manner that is something I'll be proud of." His confidence in his own skin is linked to how he plays on the field. As he started to improve and stand out on Sundays, he started to do the same with his wardrobe.

"Just being more open and more creative," Omenihu said. "Overall, I fuel off the confidence and borderline arrogance of things. I feel like it makes me play better. When you look good, you feel good, you're like, 'Nobody's gonna be better than me at my job.'"

So, get ready for Omenihu to put on a show, both on the field and in the tunnel heading into the locker room.