Donald Oberman

Don is arrogant, intimidating and deeply convinced of American superiority in football. He regards the Youth World Cup less as an uncertain international competition than as another opportunity for the United States to demonstrate its distance from everyone else.

His philosophy nevertheless values effort. Don respects natural talent, but believes the strongest competitors are those fortunate enough to possess extraordinary gifts and disciplined enough to develop them.

His arrogance is not completely indiscriminate. He can show courtesy when he chooses, and he studies multiple languages rather than assuming everyone around him should adapt entirely to him.

Don's 270 kg bench press establishes him as one of the strongest football players in the series. His strength is paired with high-level speed and technique, preventing opponents from solving him simply by avoiding a static power contest.

He plays on both offensive and defensive lines. His physical control is so extreme that ordinary opponents can be stopped with minimal effort, while even exceptional Japanese power players struggle to move him.

Don's combination of strength, technique and athleticism is precisely what his own philosophy celebrates: enormous natural gifts refined through serious work.

Don appears during the Youth World Cup as one of the clearest demonstrations of the gap Japan believes it must overcome. Team USA already has elite specialists at skill positions; Don gives it an equally overwhelming foundation on the line.

His history is also tied to Yamato's time at Notre Dame. Don judged Yamato undeserving of the Eyeshield 21 title and used his influence to have him removed from the school after framing him for misconduct.

During the World Cup final, Japan must find ways to contest Don despite his overwhelming physical superiority, turning the line battle into one of the championship game's central obstacles.

Arnold Oberman is Don's father and the President of the United States.

Tatanka, Clifford D. Lewis, Patrick Spencer and Bud Walker join Don as Team USA's five Pentagram players.

Rikiya Gaou directly challenges Don's reputation as the world's dominant lineman. [Their confrontation demonstrates that even Rikiya Gaou's extraordinary Japanese strength is insufficient to overpower him.](#spoiler)

Takeru Yamato bears a personal grudge against Don. [Don's actions at Notre Dame were responsible for Takeru Yamato's expulsion and loss of the Eyeshield 21 title.](#spoiler)