:Uzoma Nwachukwu
{{Short description|American football player (born 1990)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Uzoma Nwachukwu
| image = Uzoma Nwachukwu against Iowa State (22 October 2011).jpg
| caption = Nwachukwu in 2011
| number = 16, 17
| position = Wide receiver
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|12|15}}
| birth_place = Allen, Texas, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lbs = 194
| high_school = Allen (Allen, Texas)
| college = Texas A&M
| undraftedyear = 2013
| pastteams =
- Houston Texans ({{NFL Year|2013}}–{{NFL Year|2015}})*
- Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|2015}})*
- BC Lions ({{CFL Year|2016}})*
- Seattle Seahawks ({{NFL Year|2016}})*
- Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|2017}})*
| highlights =
- ESPN Big 12 All-Freshman (2009)
| pfr = NwacUz00
}}
Uzoma "E.Z." Nwachukwu {{Ipac-en||audio=Ig-Uzoma "E.Z." Nwachukwu.ogg}} (born December 15, 1990) is an American former football wide receiver, sports marketing agent, and television personality. He played college football for Texas A&M. He was a member of the Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks, and Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL), and BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
College career
Nwachukwu chose the Aggies over Oklahoma, Missouri, Notre Dame, Nebraska, and Louisville. He made an instant impact, starting as a true freshman. In 2009, he led the Aggies' wideouts with 708 yards on 40 catches, and ranked second in touchdown catches with six. He had three 100-yard receiving games on the year, which tied a freshman school record. In 2010, Nwachukwu was on the preseason watch list for the Biletnikoff Award. He finished his time at A&M as one of just four Aggies with more than 120 catches, 1,500 yards, and 10 touchdowns in his career.{{cite web |title=Uzoma Nwachukwu |url=https://12thman.com/sports/football/roster/uzoma-nwachukwu/915 |website=12thMan.com |access-date=October 23, 2020}} In total he had 152 catches for 2239 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also had 14 rushing attempts for 131 yards and 1 touchdown.{{cite web |title=EZ Nwachukwu Stats, News, Bio |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/16502/ez-nwachukwu |website=ESPN.com |access-date=October 23, 2020}}
Professional career
= Houston Texans =
Nwachukwu signed with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent after the 2013 NFL draft on May 10, 2013.{{cite news |title=Texans sign 23 undrafted rookie free agents |url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/texans-sign-23-undrafted-rookie-free-agents-10118082 |website=HoustonTexans.com |date=May 10, 2013 |access-date=October 23, 2020}} He was waived during final roster cuts on August 31, 2013,{{cite news |title=Texans release final cuts, trim down to 53-man roster |url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/texans-release-final-cuts-trim-down-to-53-man-roster-11023364 |website=HoustonTexans.com |date=August 31, 2013 |access-date=October 23, 2020}} and signed to the team's practice squad two days later.{{cite news |title=8 make Texans practice squad |url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/8-make-texans-practice-squad-11034802 |website=HoustonTexans.com |date=September 2, 2013 |access-date=October 23, 2020}}
After spending the entire 2013 NFL season on the practice squad, Nwachukwu signed a reserve/futures contract with the team on December 31, 2013.{{cite web |title=2013 Transactions |url=https://www.houstontexans.com/team/transactions/2013 |website=HoustonTexans.com |access-date=October 23, 2020}} He was waived during final roster cuts again on August 30, 2014,{{cite news |title=Texans make roster moves |url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/texans-make-roster-moves-13602916 |website=HoustonTexans.com |date=August 30, 2014 |access-date=October 23, 2020}} and signed to the team's practice squad again the next day.{{cite news |title=Texans sign 10 to practice squad |url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/texans-sign-10-to-practice-squad-13609600 |website=HoustonTexans.com |date=August 31, 2014 |access-date=October 23, 2020}} He was placed on the practice squad/injured list on September 30, 2014.{{cite news |title=Texans Transactions: September 30 |url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/texans-transactions-september-30-13890989 |website=HoustonTexans.com |date=September 30, 2014 |access-date=October 23, 2020}} He was released with an injury settlement on October 3, and re-signed to the practice squad on December 15, 2014.{{cite web |title=2014 Transactions |url=https://www.houstontexans.com/team/transactions/2014 |website=HoustonTexans.com |access-date=October 23, 2020}}
Nwachukwu spent the rest of the 2014 NFL season on the practice squad, and he signed a reserve/futures contract with the team again on December 30, 2014. After being featured on the 10th season of HBO's NFL training camp documentary series Hard Knocks, he was waived during final roster cuts on September 5, 2015.{{cite news |author=Alper, Josh |title=Charles James, EZ Nwachukwu dropped as Texans get to 53 players |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/09/05/charles-james-ez-nwachukwu-dropped-as-texans-get-to-53-players/ |website=NBCSports.com |date=September 5, 2015 |access-date=October 23, 2020}}
= Later career =
Nwachukwu reunited with Texas A&M teammate Ryan Tannehill when he was signed to the Miami Dolphins' practice squad on September 7, 2015.{{cite web | title=Practice squad tracker | website=NFL.com | date=2015-09-06 | url=https://www.nfl.com/news/practice-squad-tracker-0ap3000000523505 | access-date=2025-05-08}} On September 15, 2015, Nwachukwu was released by the Dolphins.{{cite news |first=Omar |last=Kelly |title=Three Dolphins defensive ends nursing injuries |url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-dolphins-news-0917-20150916-story.html |work=Sun Sentinel |date=September 16, 2015 |access-date=October 8, 2015}}
Nwachukwu signed a contract with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League on March 8, 2016.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bclions.com/2016/03/10/lions-add-international-receiver-duo/|title=Lions add international receiver duo|website=BC Lions|date=March 10, 2016 |access-date=March 18, 2016}} He was released by the team before the start of the season on June 12, 2016.{{cite news |title=Trimming Down: Tracking First Cuts |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2016/06/13/stamps-moniz-among-first-cuts-tuesday-deadline-approaches/ |website=CFL.ca |date=June 13, 2016 |access-date=October 23, 2020}} He was signed to the Seattle Seahawks' 90-man offseason roster on August 6, 2016,{{cite news |author=Boyle, John |title=A Lot Of New Faces And Other Observations From Day 7 Of Seahawks Training Camp |url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/a-lot-of-new-faces-and-other-observations-from-day-7-of-seahawks-training-162741 |website=Seahawks.com |date=August 6, 2016 |access-date=October 23, 2020}} and was waived during final roster cuts on September 3, 2016.{{cite news |author=Drovetto, Tony |title=Seattle Seahawks Set 53-Man Roster, Trade For Defensive Backs L.J. McCray And Dewey McDonald |url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seattle-seahawks-set-53-man-roster-trade-for-defensive-backs-l-j-mccray-a-165946 |website=Seahawks.com |date=September 3, 2016 |access-date=October 23, 2020}}
On January 31, 2017, Nwachukwu signed a reserve/future contract with the Dallas Cowboys.{{cite web|title=Cowboys Sign Two Receivers To Their Reserve/Future List|url=http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2017/01/31/cowboys-sign-two-receivers-their-reservefuture-list|author=Phillips, Rob|website=DallasCowboys.com|date=January 31, 2017|access-date=February 1, 2017|archive-date=September 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903212552/http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2017/01/31/cowboys-sign-two-receivers-their-reservefuture-list|url-status=dead}} He was waived during final roster cuts on September 2, 2017.{{cite web|title=Cowboys Make 38 Moves, One Trade To Reach 53; Kellen Moore Released|url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/cowboys-make-38-moves-one-trade-to-reach-53-kellen-moore-released-439246|author=Phillips, Rob|website=DallasCowboys.com|date=September 2, 2017}}
Personal life
=''The Bachelorette''=
In July 2020, it was announced that Nwachukwu would appear as a contestant on the 16th season of The Bachelorette featuring Clare Crawley.{{cite web | title = Former Texas A&M WR Uzoma Nwachukwu to be on The Bachelorette | url = https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/the-bachelorette-star-clare-crawley-new-bachelors-announced-by-abc----meet-all-of-clare-possible-suitors-(photos)-28024g6027.php | website = realitytvworld.com | date = July 19, 2020 | access-date = October 8, 2020}} Crawley chose Dale Moss as the winner, and she was replaced by Tayshia Adams as the new lead of the show after four episodes. Adams eliminated Nwachukwu in the eighth episode of the season.{{cite news |author=Drysdale, Jennifer |title='The Bachelorette': Tayshia Suddenly Sends a Man Home After He Says He's Falling in Love With Her |url=https://www.etonline.com/the-bachelorette-tayshia-suddenly-sends-a-man-home-after-he-says-hes-falling-in-love-with-her |website=ETOnline.com |date=December 1, 2020 |access-date=December 3, 2020}}
Following his appearance on The Bachelorette, a woman told HuffPost that Nwachukwu sexually assaulted her at a party 10 years ago when she was an 18-year-old high school student and he was a sophomore in college.{{cite news |author=Emma Gray |title=She Alleged That A 'Bachelorette' Contestant Raped Her. The Show's Investigation Was A Letdown. |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bachelorette-clare-tayshia-eazy-rape-allegations_n_5fda23ddc5b6aa861e5ac27d |website=huffpost.com |date=December 18, 2020 |access-date=December 18, 2020}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://archive.today/20140610023029/http://www.aggieathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=205236147 Texas A&M Aggies bio]
{{The Bachelor}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nwachukwu, Uzoma}}
Category:Players of American football from Allen, Texas
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:Canadian football wide receivers
Category:Players of Canadian football from Texas
Category:Texas A&M Aggies football players
Category:Houston Texans players
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:Miami Dolphins players
Category:Seattle Seahawks players