Joel Iyiegbuniwe
{{Short description|American football player (born 1995)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Joel Iyiegbuniwe
| image = 2017-0720-CUSA-JoelIyiegbuniwe.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Iyiegbuniwe in 2017
| current_team =
| number =
| position = Linebacker
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1995|10|12}}
| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lb = 235
| high_school = South Warren
(Bowling Green, Kentucky)
| college = Western Kentucky (2014–2017)
| draftyear = 2018
| draftround = 4
| draftpick = 115
| pastteams =
- Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|2018}}–{{NFL Year|2021}})
- Seattle Seahawks ({{NFL Year|2022}})*
- Carolina Panthers ({{NFL Year|2022}})
- San Antonio Brahmas ({{UFL Year|2024}})
- Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|2024}})*
| status =
| highlights =
- First-team All-CUSA (2017)
| statleague = NFL
| statweek =
| statseason =
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 31
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 =
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 = 1
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 =
| statlabel5 = Pass deflections
| statvalue5 = 1
| statlabel6 = Interceptions
| statvalue6 =
| statlabel7 = Defensive touchdowns
| statvalue7 =
| pfr = IyieJo00
}}
Joel Iyiegbuniwe (born October 12, 1995) is an American professional football linebacker. He played college football for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.
Early life
Iyiegbuniwe attended South Warren High School in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Although he only played in four games as a senior, he tallied 23 tackles and one interception along with six touchdowns. As a junior he made 64 tackles with three interceptions along with four touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Joel Iyiegbuniwe |url=http://www.wkusports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=982 |access-date=January 17, 2018 |publisher=Western Kentucky University Athletics}} Iyiegbuniwe committed to play football for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in December 2013, choosing them over Indiana State and Southern Illinois.{{Cite web |title=South Warren LB/RB Joel Iyiegbuniwe verbally commits to WKU |date=December 5, 2013 |url=http://www.bgdailynews.com/sports/blogs/zach_greenwall/south-warren-lb-rb-joel-iyiegbuniwe-verbally-commits-to-wku/article_e1e8df88-9723-598e-a397-3a27284642c8.html |access-date=January 17, 2018 |publisher=Bowling Green Daily News}}
College career
As a true freshman in 2014, Iyiegbuniwe played in the first three games of Western Kentucky's season before a knee injury ended his season. He elected to take a medical redshirt.{{Cite web |title=TOPPER EXTRA: Iyiegbuniwe makes impact in breakout season |url=http://wkuherald.com/special_sections/topper_extra/topper-extra-iyiegbuniwe-makes-impact-in-breakout-season/article_2ae8f4ae-8628-5260-bdc6-0f17c5ca474f.html |access-date=January 17, 2018 |publisher=wkuherald.com |archive-date=October 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022204909/http://wkuherald.com/special_sections/topper_extra/topper-extra-iyiegbuniwe-makes-impact-in-breakout-season/article_2ae8f4ae-8628-5260-bdc6-0f17c5ca474f.html |url-status=dead }}
In 2015, as a redshirt freshman, Iyiegbuniwe played in all 14 of Western Kentucky's games, recording 19 tackles and one sack.{{Cite web |title=Joel Iyiegbuniwe 2015 Player Statistics |url=http://www.cfbstats.com/2015/player/772/1066151/index.html |access-date=January 17, 2018 |publisher=cfbstats.com}}
In 2016, Iyiegbuniwe, now a redshirt sophomore, once again appeared in all 14 games. He made 64 tackles (10 for loss), 3.5 sacks, three pass deflections and one forced fumble.{{Cite web |title=Joel Iyiegbuniwe 2016 Player Statistics |url=http://www.cfbstats.com/2016/player/772/1066151/index.html |access-date=January 17, 2018 |publisher=cfbstats.com}} He was awarded 2016 C-USA Honorable Mention.{{Cite web |title=FB: 2016 All-Conference Teams |date=December 6, 2016 |url=http://www.conferenceusa.com/news/2016/12/6/FB_1206161823.aspx |access-date=January 17, 2018 |publisher=Conference USA}}
As a redshirt junior in 2017, Iyiegbuniwe played in all 13 games, recording 117 tackles (11.5 for loss), two sacks, one pass deflection and three forced fumbles.{{Cite web |title=Joel Iyiegbuniwe 2017 Player Statistics |url=http://www.cfbstats.com/2017/player/772/1066151/index.html |access-date=January 17, 2018 |publisher=cfbstats.com}} He was named to the 2017 C-USA First-team.{{Cite web |title=FB: 2017 All-Conference Awards |date=December 5, 2017 |url=http://www.conferenceusa.com/news/2017/12/5/FB_1205175027.aspx |access-date=January 17, 2018 |publisher=Conference USA}} After the season, he declared for the 2018 NFL draft.{{cite web | last=Taylor | first=John | title=Western Kentucky's Joel Iyiegbuniwe declares early for draft | website=NBC Sports | date=2018-01-15 | url=https://www.nbcsports.com/college-football/news/western-kentuckys-joel-iyiegbuniwe-declares-early-for-draft | access-date=2024-12-27}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 1 3/8
| weight = 229
| dash = 4.60
| ten split = 1.60
| twenty split = 2.70
| shuttle = 4.28
| cone drill = 7.06
| vertical = 35.0
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 9
| bench = 19
| arm span = 32 5/8
| hand span = 10 1/4
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/joel-iyiegbuniwe/32004959-4917-7981-8e68-457ec1321cb4 |title=Joel Iyiegbuniwe Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=March 27, 2022}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=132174&DraftYear=2018 |title=2018 Draft Scout Joel Iyiegbuniwe, Western Kentucky NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile |website=draftscout.com |access-date=March 27, 2022}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.ninersnation.com/2018/3/6/17081404/nfl-combine-2018-full-results-table-40-yard-dash-bench-workout-drills-recap |title=NFL Combine 2018: Full list of results, measurements from all positions |website=ninersnation.com |date=March 6, 2018 |access-date=March 27, 2022}}
}}
=Chicago Bears=
Iyiegbuniwe was selected by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round (115th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft.{{Cite web |last=Mayer, Larry |date=April 28, 2018 |title=Bears select Iyiegbuniwe in Round 4 |url=https://www.chicagobears.com/news/bears-select-iyiegbuniwe-in-round-4-20604120 |access-date=May 26, 2018 |website=ChicagoBears.com}}
=Seattle Seahawks=
On March 24, 2022, Iyiegbuniwe signed a one-year contract with the Seattle Seahawks.{{cite web|title=Seahawks Sign LB Joel Iyiegbuniwe|url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-sign-lb-joel-iyiegbuniwe|author=Boyle, John|website=Seahawks.com|date=March 24, 2022}} He was released on August 20, 2022.{{cite web|title=Seahawks Release LB Joel Iyiegbuniwe, Waive Four Undrafted Rookies To Reduce Roster To 80|url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-release-lb-joel-iyiegbuniwe-waive-four-undrafted-rookies-to-reduce-rost|author=Boyle, John|website=Seahawks.com|date=August 20, 2022}}
=Carolina Panthers=
On October 20, 2022, Iyiegbuniwe was signed to the practice squad of the Carolina Panthers.{{cite web|title=Panthers add two players to practice squad on Tuesday|url=https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2022/11/01/panthers-practice-squad-nate-mccrary-joel-iyiegbuniwe/|work=Panthers Wire|publisher=USA Today|date=November 1, 2022}} He was promoted to the active roster on November 19.{{cite web|title=Panthers activate Jeremy Chinn to 53-man roster|url=https://www.panthers.com/news/panthers-activate-jeremy-chinn-to-53-man-roster|author=Gantt, Darin|website=Panthers.com|date=November 19, 2022}}
= San Antonio Brahmas =
On January 19, 2024, Iyiegbuniwe signed with the San Antonio Brahmas of the United Football League (UFL).{{Cite news |title=The UFL Agree to Terms with 42 Players |url=https://uflboard.com/news/the-ufl-agree-to-terms-with-42-players/ |website=UFLBoard.com |date=January 19, 2024 |access-date=January 20, 2024}} His contract was terminated on August 19, to sign with an NFL team.{{cite tweet |user=UFL_PR |title=The #UFL has announced the following transactions |number=1825644629485650394 |date=August 19, 2024 |access-date=August 20, 2024}}
=Detroit Lions=
On August 19, 2024, Iyiegbuniwe signed with the Detroit Lions.{{cite web | last=Bianchi | first=Nolan | last2=Silva | first2=Richard | title=Detroit Lions sign linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe | website=detroitnews.com | date=2024-08-20 | url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2024/08/20/detroit-lions-sign-linebacker-joel-iyiegbuniwe/74865666007/ | access-date=2024-09-03}} He was released on August 27.{{cite web|title=Lions announce roster moves|url=https://www.detroitlions.com/news/detroit-lions-announce-roster-moves-nfl-53-man|website=DetroitLions.com|date=August 27, 2024}}
Personal life
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.wkusports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=982 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers bio]
- {{commons category-inline}}
{{Bears2018DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Iyiegbuniwe, Joel}}
Category:American players of American football of Nigerian descent
Category:Players of American football from Kentucky
Category:American football linebackers
Category:Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football players
Category:People from Warren County, Kentucky
Category:Chicago Bears players
Category:Seattle Seahawks players
Category:Carolina Panthers players