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{{Infobox NFL player |
{{Infobox NFL player |
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|name = Iheanyi Uwaezuoke |
|name = Iheanyi Uwaezuoke |
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|image = African Sports Star Iheanyi Uwaezuoke as photogenic alias- 'ehani'.jpg |
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|image_size = |
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|caption = |
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|alt = |
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|number = 89, 80 |
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|position = [[Wide receiver]] / [[Punt returner]] |
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|birth_date = {{birth date|1973|7|24}} |
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|birth_place = [[Lagos]], [[Nigeria]] |
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|death_date = |
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|death_place = |
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|height_ft = 6 |
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|height_in = 2 |
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|weight_lbs = 198 |
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|high_school=[[Harvard-Westlake School|Los Angeles (CA) Harvard]] |
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|college = [[California Golden Bears football|California]] |
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|draftyear = 1996 |
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|draftround = 5 |
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|draftpick = 160 |
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|pastteams = |
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* [[San Francisco 49ers]] ({{NFL Year|1996}}–{{NFL Year|1998}}) |
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* [[Miami Dolphins]] ({{NFL Year|1998}}) |
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* [[Detroit Lions]] ({{NFL Year|1999}}) |
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* [[Carolina Panthers]] ({{NFL Year|2000}}) |
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|statlabel1 = Receptions |
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|statvalue1 = 29 |
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|statlabel2 = Receiving yards |
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|statvalue2 = 374 |
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|statlabel3 = Touchdowns |
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|statvalue3 = 1 |
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|statlabel4 = [[Punt returns]] |
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|statvalue4 = 62 |
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|statlabel5 = [[Punt return]] yards |
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|statvalue5 = 696 |
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|statlabel6 = [[Touchdowns]] |
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|statvalue6 = 1 |
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|nflnew = iheanyiuwaezuoke/2503444 |
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|pfr = UwaeIh00 |
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}} |
}} |
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'''Iheanyi Uwaezuoke''' is a former [[American]] |
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'''Iheanyi Uwaezuoke''' (pronounced {{Respell|ee|HAH|nyee}} {{Respell|oo|WAY|zoh-kay}})<ref>{{cite news |last=Klein |first=Patrick |url=http://wc.arizona.edu/papers/old-wildcats/fall94/November/November 4, 1994/10_1_m.html |title=Uwaezuoke is no average Joe |work=[[Arizona Daily Wildcat]] |date=November 4, 1994 |accessdate=2015-07-16 |quote=It took UA Sports Information Director Tom Duddleston to pronounce the name for Tomey. For the record, Iheanyi Uwaezuoke is pronounced Eee-HAH-nyee OO-WAY-zoh-kay . . . . }}</ref>{{needs IPA}} (born July 24, 1973) is a former [[American football]] [[wide receiver]] and [[punt returner]] for the [[San Francisco 49ers]], [[Miami Dolphins]], [[Detroit Lions]], and [[Carolina Panthers]] of the [[National Football League]]. He was drafted in the fifth round of the [[1996 NFL Draft]] by the [[San Francisco 49ers]]. He played college football at the [[University of California, Berkeley]]. |
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==Early years== |
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Uwaezuoke was born in [[Lagos]], [[Nigeria]]. His father, a Nigerian [[Igbo people|Igbo]], came to America in 1978 to pursue his education, and the rest of his family followed in 1980. Uwaezuoke attended [[Harvard-Westlake School|Harvard High School]] in [[Studio City, Los Angeles, California|Studio City, California]].<ref name="purpose">{{cite news|first=Jeff|last=Riley|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1991-07-25/sports/sp-59_1_harvard-high |title=Uwaezuoke to Walk On With Purpose : Prep football: Nigerian receiver-defensive back from Harvard High vows to earn a scholarship at Cal.|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=July 25, 1991|accessdate=November 24, 2012}}</ref> He played wide receiver and defensive back, and was selected to the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' All-Valley team and the All-Southern Section Division VII team. In addition to football, he also played basketball and competed in track and field, setting a school record of {{convert|45|ft|2|in|m}} in the [[triple jump]] as well as competing in the [[100 metres|100 meters]], [[4 × 100 metres relay|400 meter relay]], and [[shot put]].<ref name="purpose"/> He was recruited by [[UCLA Bruins football|UCLA]], [[Duke Blue Devils football|Duke]], [[Penn Quakers football|Penn]], and [[California Golden Bears football|California]], but ultimately received no athletic scholarship offers.<ref>{{cite news | first = Dana | last = Haddad | title = Cal's Uwaezuoke a Deep Thinker | date = October 6, 1994 | url = http://articles.latimes.com/1994-10-06/sports/sp-47227_1_iheanyi-uwaezuoke | work = [[Los Angeles Times]] | accessdate = 2013-05-20}}</ref> |
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==College career== |
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Uwaezuoke chose to attend the [[University of California]] as a [[Walk-on (sports)|walk-on]],<ref name="purpose"/> and earned a scholarship after his first semester.<ref>[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LA&p_theme=la&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EF616594AD5F7AA&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM "Harvard Alumnus earns football grant from Cal"], ''[[Los Angeles Daily News]]'', May 28, 1992 (pay site).</ref> Uwaezuoke became known as a big-play wide receiver for the [[California Golden Bears|Golden Bears]]. He caught 27 passes in his sophomore year, including a touchdown in Cal's [[1993 Alamo Bowl]] win over [[Iowa Hawkeyes football|Iowa]].<ref>Dana Haddad, [http://articles.latimes.com/1994-01-06/sports/sp-9170_1_iheanyi-uwaezuoke "Cal's Uwaezuoke Still Feels a Hunger"], ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', January 6, 1994.</ref> Playing in 10 games in 1994, he had 56 catches for 716 yards and 5 touchdowns.<ref>Dana Haddad, [http://articles.latimes.com/1995-11-02/sports/sp-63955_1_career-list "Pro Career Next Route for Cal's Uwaezuoke?"], ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', November 2, 1995.</ref> In 1995 he missed the front and back ends of his senior year due to thumb<ref>Samuel Chi, [http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Uwaezuoke-thumbs-nose-at-adversity-3129043.php "Uwaezuoke thumbs nose at adversity"], ''[[San Francisco Examiner]]'', September 29, 1995.</ref> and knee injuries.<ref>[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SJ&s_site=mercurynews&p_multi=SJ&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB71F0904A97A7E&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM "Receiver Uwaezuoke Goes Out With Style, Sadness"], ''[[San Jose Mercury News]]'', November 5, 1995 (pay site).</ref> and had 30 receptions for 506 yards and three touchdowns in 6 complete games. He finished his career with 114 catches for 1,703 yards<ref>Samuel Chi, [http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Bears-lose-WR-Uwaezuoke-LB-Johnson-for-rest-of-3123642.php "Bears lose WR Uwaezuoke, LB Johnson for rest of season"], ''[[San Francisco Examiner]]'', November 5, 1995.</ref> and tied a school record (later surpassed) for total receptions in a game (13).<ref>[http://articles.latimes.com/1998/nov/01/sports/sp-38384 "Bears Need Rally to Edge Beavers"], [[Associated Press]] in ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', November 1, 1998.</ref> |
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==Professional career== |
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Uwaezuoke was selected by the [[San Francisco 49ers]] in the fifth round (160th overall) of the [[1996 NFL Draft]]. Although he had not played much on [[special teams]] in high school or college, he focused on special team play as a way to make an impact on the team.<ref>David Wharton, [http://articles.latimes.com/1997/sep/21/sports/sp-34789 "Something Special: Iheanyi Uwaezuoke of Harvard-Westlake High Has Seen Limited Action as a Receiver for the San Francisco 49ers, but He's Finding His Niche on the Club With His Strong Play on Special Teams."] ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', September 21, 1997.</ref> In 1997 he was the 49ers' regular [[punt returner]] until he muffed a catch in the next to last game and the coaches to replace him with [[Rod Woodson]]; Uwaezuoke was cut by the 49ers during the subsequent season and claimed by the Dolphins.<ref>Cesar Brioso, [http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1998-11-21/sports/9811201032_1_iheanyi-uwaezuoke-punt-terrell-buckley "An Opportunity To Return: Cut By 49ers, Uwaezuoke Aims For Role With Dolphins"], ''[[Sun-Sentinel]]'', November 21, 1998.</ref> In his career he played in 60 NFL games, with 2 starts at wide receiver and 32 contests where he appeared as a featured punt returner. Uwaezuoke currently ranks 27th on the NFL career list for average yards per punt return (11.2).<ref>[http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=UWAEZIHE01#award Iheanyi Uwaezuoke] at DatabaseFootball.com.</ref> |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist|30em}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Uwaezuoke, Iheanyi}} |
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[[Category:1973 births]] |
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[[Category:Living people]] |
[[Category:Living people]] |
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[[Category:Sportspeople from Lagos]] |
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[[Category:Igbo sportspeople]] |
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[[Category:Nigerian players of American football]] |
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[[Category:American football return specialists]] |
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[[Category:American football wide receivers]] |
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[[Category:California Golden Bears football players]] |
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[[Category:San Francisco 49ers players]] |
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[[Category:Miami Dolphins players]] |
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[[Category:Detroit Lions players]] |
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[[Category:Carolina Panthers players]] |
Revision as of 06:28, 4 September 2017
Iheanyi Uwaezuoke is a former American