Haruki Nakamura facts for kids
Nakamura with the Baltimore Ravens 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 on April 18, 1986, is a former American professional football player. He played as a safety. The Baltimore Ravens chose him in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL draft. Before turning pro, he played college football for the University of Cincinnati.
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Haruki Nakamura's Early Life and Family
Haruki Nakamura grew up in a family of talented athletes. His parents, Karen and Ryozo, were both very good at judo. Judo is a Japanese martial art and sport. His mother, who is Irish American, holds a fourth-degree black belt. His father, who was Japanese, had an eighth-degree black belt.
Haruki's brothers, Mako and Yoshi, were also international judo champions. Yoshi was a two-time state wrestling champion in Ohio. He even competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials. Haruki's sister, Kimi, was a national judo champion. She also played college volleyball at the University of Cincinnati.
High School Football Career
Nakamura went to St. Edward High School. This was an all-boys Catholic school in Cleveland, Ohio. He played both wide receiver and defensive back on the football team.
In 2003, he helped his team reach the finals of the Ohio Division I playoffs. He earned "All-Ohio" honors as a defensive back in his senior year. He finished high school in 2004.
College Football 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 also played on special teams. He eventually earned first-team "All-Big East" honors for his great play.
Haruki Nakamura's Professional Football Career
Haruki Nakamura began his professional football journey in 2008. He played for two different teams during his career.
Playing for the Baltimore Ravens
On April 26, 2008, 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, Nakamura made 12 tackles in 16 games.
On January 10, 2009, he had a career-high five tackles. This happened in a big playoff game where the Ravens beat the Tennessee Titans.
Injury and Comeback
On November 16, 2009, Nakamura got hurt during a Monday Night Football game. He broke his right ankle while trying to make a tackle on special teams. This injury ended his season early. He played in nine games that year, with seven special teams tackles and one tackle on defense.
In the 2010 preseason, Nakamura showed he was ready for a great season. In one game, he made an amazing interception. His coach, John Harbaugh, said it was one of the best plays he had ever seen. Nakamura also sacked the opposing quarterback in that game.
During the 2010 regular season, Nakamura played in all 16 games. He recorded 16 tackles and was second on the team with 13 special teams tackles. He also played in all three of the Ravens' playoff games. In one game, he intercepted a pass from the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback.
In 2011, he played in 15 games. He tied for second on the team with nine special teams tackles. He also made three tackles while backing up star safety Ed Reed. He missed about a month due to an injury in a game against the St. Louis Rams. He played in two playoff games, leading the team with four special teams tackles.
Time with the Carolina Panthers
Nakamura signed with the Carolina Panthers on March 16, 2012. He started a career-high 13 games as a free safety. He also recorded a career-high 52 tackles. He tied for the team lead with two interceptions and had 10 special teams tackles. His season ended when he got a groin injury in December.
In 2013, he suffered a concussion during the preseason. The Panthers placed him on injured reserve. A few days later, his contract was ended due to the injury.
See also
In Spanish: Haruki Nakamura para niños
