Haruki Nakamura facts for kids
Nakamura during training camp in 2009
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| No. 43 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Safety | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | April 18, 1986 Elyria, Ohio, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 190 lb (86 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Lakewood (OH) St. Edward | ||||||||
| College: | Cincinnati | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2008 / Round: 6 / Pick: 206 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
Haruki Robert Nakamura (born April 18, 1986) is a former American football player. He played as a safety in the NFL. Haruki was chosen by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2008 NFL Draft. Before playing professionally, he was a college football star at the University of Cincinnati.
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Early Life and Family Background
Haruki Nakamura was born on April 18, 1986. His parents, Karen and Ryozo, were both very skilled in judo. Judo is a Japanese martial art and sport. His mother, Karen, holds a fourth-degree black belt. His father, Ryozo, who has passed away, had an eighth-degree black belt.
Haruki's brothers, Mako and Yoshi, were also international judo champions. His sister, Kimi, won a national judo championship. She also played college volleyball at the University of Cincinnati.
High School Football Star
Haruki went to St. Edward High School in Ohio. It was an all-boys Catholic school. He played both wide receiver and defensive back on the football team.
In 2003, Haruki helped his team reach the Ohio Division I state playoffs. They finished as runner-up that year. In his senior year, he was named second-team "All-Ohio" as a defensive back. He graduated from high school in 2004.
College Career at Cincinnati
After high school, Haruki attended the University of Cincinnati. He studied criminal justice there. He played college football for the Bearcats. He was a free safety and played on special teams. Haruki earned first-team "All-Big East" honors for his great play.
Professional Football Career
Haruki Nakamura played for two teams in the NFL. He started with the Baltimore Ravens. Later, he joined the Carolina Panthers.
Baltimore Ravens (2008–2011)
The Baltimore Ravens picked Haruki in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL draft. He was the 206th player chosen overall. In his first season (2008), he played in all 16 games. He made 12 tackles.
In January 2009, Haruki had a career-high five tackles. This was during a playoff game where the Ravens beat the Tennessee Titans.
Injury and Comeback
On November 16, 2009, Haruki got hurt during a game. He broke his right ankle while making a tackle on special teams. This injury ended his season early. He was placed on the injured reserve list.
In the 2010 preseason, Haruki showed he was ready for a big year. He made an amazing interception against the New York Giants. His coach, John Harbaugh, called it "as good a play as you're ever going to see." Haruki also sacked the Giants' quarterback in that game.
During the 2010 regular season, Haruki played in all 16 games. He had 16 tackles on defense. He also had 13 tackles on special teams, which was second-highest on the team. In the playoffs, he intercepted a pass from the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback.
In 2011, Haruki played in 15 games. He tied for second on the team with nine special teams tackles. He also had three tackles while backing up star safety Ed Reed. He missed one month due to an injury in Week 4. In the playoffs, he led the team with four special teams tackles.
Carolina Panthers (2012–2013)
Haruki Nakamura signed with the Carolina Panthers on March 16, 2012. He started a career-high 13 games as a free safety. He also made a career-high 52 tackles. He tied for the team lead with two interceptions. He also had 10 special teams tackles.
His 2012 season ended early due to a groin injury. He was placed on injured reserve in December. In 2013, he suffered a concussion during the preseason. He was later released by the Panthers.
See also
In Spanish: Haruki Nakamura para niños
