Kene Nwangwu
{{Short description|American football player (born 1998)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Kene Nwangwu
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_team = New York Jets
| number = 34
| position = Running back
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1998|2|9|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Frisco, Texas, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lb = 213
| high_school = Heritage (Frisco, Texas)
| college = Iowa State (2016–2020)
| draftyear = 2021
| draftround = 4
| draftpick = 119
| pastteams =
- Minnesota Vikings ({{NFL Year|2021|2023}})
- New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|2024}})*
- New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2024}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
- Second-team All-Pro (2022)
- PFWA All-Rookie Team (2021)
| statseason = 2024
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Rushing yards
| statvalue1 = 88
| statlabel2 = Rushing average
| statvalue2 = 3.3
| statlabel3 = Receptions
| statvalue3 = 6
| statlabel4 = Receiving yards
| statvalue4 = 30
| statlabel5 = Return yards
| statvalue5 = 2,036
| statlabel6 = Total touchdowns
| statvalue6 = 4
| pfr = N/NwanKe00
}}
Kene Nwangwu (born February 9, 1998) is an American professional football running back for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Iowa State Cyclones.{{Cite web |last=Peterson |first=Randy |date=April 29, 2021 |title=Peterson: Iowa State's Dylan Soehner, Kene Nwangwu hope to hear name called in NFL Draft |url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/college/iowa-state/randy-peterson/2021/04/29/2021-nfl-draft-iowa-state-football-players-kene-nwangwu-dylan-soehner/7390745002/ |access-date=October 28, 2023 |website=The Des Moines Register}}
College career
Nwangwu played for the Iowa State Cyclones of Iowa State University from 2016 to 2020.{{Cite web |title=Kene Nwangwu College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/kene-nwangwu-1.html |access-date=October 28, 2023 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} He led the Big 12 Conference in kickoff returns and kickoff return yards in the 2016 season.{{Cite web |title=2016 Big 12 Conference Leaders |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfbconferences/big-12/2016-leaders.html |access-date=October 28, 2023 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} Due to an Achilles injury, he used a redshirt for the 2017 season.{{Cite web |last=Visser |first=Ben |date=September 26, 2018 |title=Iowa State's Kene Nwangwu back to his old self |url=https://www.thegazette.com/iowa-state-cyclones/iowa-states-kene-nwangwu-back-to-his-old-self/ |access-date=October 28, 2023 |website=TheGazette.com |language=en-US}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 0 1/8
| weight = 210
| dash = 4.31
| ten split = 1.45
| twenty split = 2.56
| shuttle = 4.25
| cone drill = 6.83
| vertical = 38.0
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 5
| bench = 22
| arm span = 30 1/2
| hand span = 9 1/4
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1020768&DraftYear=2021 |title=2021 NFL Draft Scout Kene Nwangwu College Football Profile |access-date=June 30, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}{{Cite web |title=Vikings Select RB Kene Nwangwu In Round 4 of the 2021 NFL Draft |url=https://www.vikings.com/video/vikings-select-rb-kene-nwangwu-in-round-4-of-the-2021-nfl-draft |access-date=September 2, 2023 |website=Vikings.com}}
}}
= Minnesota Vikings =
Nwangwu was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round, 119th overall, of the 2021 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Lindsey |last2=Peters |first2=Craig |last3=Smith |first3=Eric |date=May 1, 2021 |title=Minnesota Vikings Round 4 Recap of 2021 NFL Draft |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/minnesota-vikings-fourth-round-2020-nfl-draft-picks |access-date=October 28, 2023 |website=Vikings.com}} On May 15, 2021, he signed his rookie contract with Minnesota, worth $4.23 million with a $752K signing bonus.{{Cite web |last=Levine |first=Ben |date=May 15, 2021 |title=Vikings Sign Fourth-Round RB Kene Nwangwu |url=https://www.profootballrumors.com/2021/05/vikings-sign-fourth-round-rb-kene-nwangwu |access-date=October 28, 2023 |website=Pro Football Rumors |language=en-US}} He was placed on injured reserve on September 1, 2021.{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Craig |date=September 1, 2021 |title=Vikings Claim TE Ben Ellefson & Sign 14 to Practice Squad |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/pratice-squad-ben-ellefson-tight-end-roster-2021 |access-date=October 28, 2023 |website=Vikings.com}} He was activated on October 19. His first NFL touchdown was a 98-yard kick-off return for a touchdown versus the Baltimore Ravens in Week 9, earning National Football Conference (NFC) Special Teams Player of the Week.{{Cite web |last=Gordon |first=Grant |date=November 10, 2021 |title=Chargers QB Justin Herbert, Falcons QB Matt Ryan lead Players of the Week |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/players-of-the-week-2021-week-9-justin-herbert-matt-ryan |access-date=October 28, 2023 |website=NFL.com}} Three weeks later in Week 12 against the San Francisco 49ers, Nwangwu returned another kick for a touchdown, this one being 99 yards.{{Cite web |date=November 29, 2021 |title=Vikings' Kene Nwangwu: Another kick-return touchdown |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/vikings-kene-nwangwu-another-kick-return-touchdwon/ |access-date=October 28, 2023 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Cronin |first=Courtney |date=November 28, 2021 |title=Vikings' Kene Nwangwu breaks loose for 99-yard kickoff return |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/32736194/vikings-kene-nwangwu-breaks-loose-99-yard-kickoff-return |access-date=October 28, 2023 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} As a rookie, he appeared in 11 games.{{Cite web |title=Kene Nwangwu 2021 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/N/NwanKe00/gamelog/2021/ |access-date=October 28, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He was named to the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team.{{Cite web |title=2021 NFL All-Rookie Team |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/nfl-all-rookie-2021.htm |access-date=October 28, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
In Week 12 of the 2022 season against the New England Patriots, he had another kickoff return for a 97-yard touchdown, earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Craig |date=November 24, 2022 |title=Kene Nwangwu's 97-yard Kick Return TD Spices Up Thanksgiving Win by Vikings |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/kene-nwangwu-kick-return-touchdown-patriots |access-date=November 25, 2022 |website=Vikings.com}} His 35 total kick returns in the 2022 tied with Keisean Nixon for the lead in the NFL.{{Cite web |title=2022 NFL Kick & Punt Returns |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2022/returns.htm |access-date=October 28, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} Overall, he appeared in all 17 games in a special teams role for the Vikings in the 2022 season.{{Cite web |title=Kene Nwangwu 2022 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/N/NwanKe00/gamelog/2022/ |access-date=October 28, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
On August 30, 2023, Nwangwu was placed on injured reserve.{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Lindsey |date=August 30, 2023 |title=Vikings Agree to Terms with Myles Gaskin & David Quessenberry, Waive Jalen Reagor |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/agree-to-terms-myles-gaskin-david-quessenberry-waive-jalen-reagor |access-date=October 28, 2023 |website=Vikings.com}} He was activated on October 18.{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Lindsey |date=October 18, 2023 |title=Vikings Place Davenport on IR; Activate Nwangwu to 53-Man Roster |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/place-marcus-davenport-ir-activate-kene-nwangwu-active-roster |access-date=October 28, 2023 |website=Vikings.com |language=en-US}}
On August 27, 2024, Nwangwu was waived by the Vikings as a part of final roster cuts.{{Cite web |last=Florio |first=Mike |author-link=Mike Florio |date=2024-08-28 |title=Saints claim RB Kene Nwangwu |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/saints-claim-rb-kene-nwangwu |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=NBC Sports}}
= New Orleans Saints =
Nwangwu was claimed off waivers by the New Orleans Saints on August 28, 2024, but was waived the next day after failing his physical.{{Cite web |last=Gray |first=Darrion |date=August 29, 2024 |title=Kene Nwangwu waived due to failed physical a day after signing |url=https://saintswire.usatoday.com/2024/08/29/kene-nwangwu-waived-due-to-failed-physical-a-day-after-signing/ |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=Saints Wire |publisher=USA Today}}
= New York Jets =
Nwangwu signed with the New York Jets practice squad on September 9, 2024.{{cite web | last=Smith | first=Alex | title=Jets signing former All-Pro kick returner Kene Nwangwu to practice squad: report | website=Yahoo! Sports | date=2024-09-09 | url=https://sports.yahoo.com/jets-signing-former-pro-kick-152701333.html | access-date=2024-10-16}} During his debut with the team on December 1, Nwangwu returned a kick 99 yards for a touchdown in a 26–21 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He was promoted to the active roster on December 2.{{cite web | title=Jets' Kene Nwangwu: Signs to active roster | website=CBSSports.com | date=2024-12-02 | url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/jets-kene-nwangwu-signs-to-active-roster/ | access-date=2024-12-30}}
On March 19, 2025, Nwangwu re-signed with the Jets.{{Cite web|title=Jets Re-Sign RB Kene Nwangwu|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-sign-kene-nwangwu-03-19-2025|access-date=April 4, 2025|website=newyorkjets.com|language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.newyorkjets.com/team/players-roster/kene-nwangwu/ New York Jets bio]
- [https://cyclones.com/sports/football/roster/kene-nwangwu/10889 Iowa State Cyclones bio]
{{New York Jets roster navbox}}
{{Vikings2021DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nwangwu, Kene}}
Category:Players of American football from Frisco, Texas
Category:American football running backs
Category:Iowa State Cyclones football players