Uche Nwaneri facts for kids
Nwaneri (center left) with the Jaguars in 2009
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| No. 77 | |||||||
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| Position: | Guard | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | March 20, 1984 Dallas, Texas, United States |
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| Died: | December 30, 2022 (aged 38) West Lafayette, Indiana, United States |
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| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 310 lb (141 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Garland (TX) Naaman Forest | ||||||
| College: | Purdue | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2007 / Round: 5 / Pick: 149 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Uchechukwu Eberechukwu Nwaneri (pronounced OO-chay NWAH-nerr-ee) was an American football player. He was born on March 20, 1984, and passed away on December 30, 2022. Uche played as a guard in the National Football League (NFL). He played for seven seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Before joining the NFL, he played college football at Purdue. The Jaguars picked him in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. After he stopped playing football, Uche started a YouTube channel called "The Observant Lineman."
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Early Life and College
Uche Nwaneri grew up in Garland, Texas. He went to Naaman Forest High School there. In high school, he played football with Melvin Bullitt, who also became a professional football player.
After high school, Uche decided to play college football at Purdue University. He officially committed to Purdue on July 8, 2003. Other big colleges like Kentucky and Texas A&M also offered him scholarships to play for their teams.
Professional Football Career
Uche Nwaneri was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2007. He was the 149th player chosen overall in the draft.
Playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars
In his first year, 2007, Uche played in 9 games and started 1 of them. The Jaguars made it to the playoffs that year.
In 2008, Uche became a full-time starter. This happened after another player, Vince Manuwai, got injured. Uche played in 15 games and started all 15 of them that season.
For the 2009 season, Uche competed for a starting spot again. He won the job and played in all 16 games, starting 13 of them. He played very well that year. The Jaguars released Uche on March 4, 2014.
Time with the Dallas Cowboys
On June 25, 2014, Uche Nwaneri signed with the Dallas Cowboys. However, he was cut from the team on August 30, 2014, before the regular season began. After this, Uche decided to retire from playing in the NFL.
Later Life and Passing
After his football career, Uche Nwaneri became known for his YouTube channel. He shared his thoughts and opinions on various topics there.
Uche Nwaneri passed away on December 30, 2022, when he was 38 years old. Early reports suggested he might have had a heart attack.
