Uche Nwaneri

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Uche Nwaneri

| image = Uche Nwaneri (2015630559) (cropped).jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Nwaneri with the Cowboys during the 2014 NFL preseason

| number = 77

| position = Guard

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1984|03|20|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Dallas, Texas, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2022|12|30|1984|03|20|mf=y}}

| death_place = West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 3

| weight_lbs = 310

| high_school = Garland (TX) Naaman Forest

| college = Purdue

| draftyear = 2007

| draftround = 5

| draftpick = 149

| pastteams =

Jacksonville Jaguars ({{NFL Year|2007}}–{{NFL Year|2013}})
Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|2014}})*

| highlights =

| statlabel1 = Games played

| statvalue1 = 104

| statlabel2 = Games started

| statvalue2 = 92

| pfr = NwanUc20

}}

Uchechukwu Eberechukwu Nwaneri {{IPAc-en||audio=Ig-Eberechukwu "Uche" Nwaneri.ogg}} ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|uː|tʃ|eɪ|_|n|w|ɑː|ˈ|n|ɛr|i}} {{respell|OO|chay|_|nwah|NERR|ee}}) (March 20, 1984 – December 30, 2022) was an American football guard who played in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played college football at Purdue and was selected by the Jaguars in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=2007 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2007/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} After retiring, he ran "The Observant Lineman" channel on YouTube.{{Cite web |title=Uche Nwaneri - YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/@UcheNwaneri/videos |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=www.youtube.com}}

Early life

Nwaneri attended Naaman Forest High School in Garland, Texas, where he was teammates with Melvin Bullitt.

{{College Athlete Recruit Entry

| recruit = Uche Nwaneri

| position = OL

| hometown = Garland, Texas

| highschool = Naaman Forest High School

| feet = 6

| inches = 4

| weight = 275

| 40 = 5.0

| commitdate = July 8, 2003

| scout stars = 3

| rivals stars = 2

}}

{{College Athlete Recruit End

| 40 = yes

| year = 2002

| rivals ref title = Purdue Football Commitment List (27)

| scout ref title = Purdue College Football Recruiting Commits

| scouts =

| scout overall = -- (OL)

| rivals overall = 66 (OL), -- (TX)

| accessdate = November 15, 2011

}}

Nwaneri committed to Purdue University on July 8, 2003.{{cite web |title=Uche Nwaneri |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/purdue/football/recruiting/player-Uche-Nwaneri-4458;_ylt=Aj.EqA3fLKaT1ZP1LGOm3AmLtZB4 |publisher=Rivals.com |access-date=November 15, 2011}} Nwaneri also had FBS scholarship offers from Kentucky, and Texas A&M.{{cite web |title=Uche Nwaneri |url=http://purdue.scout.com/a.z?s=180&p=8&c=1&nid=7163 |publisher=Scout.com |access-date=November 15, 2011}}

Professional career

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 6

| height in = 3 1/8

| weight = 325

| dash = 5.44

| ten split = 1.87

| twenty split = 3.13

| vertical = 27.5

| broad ft = 8

| broad in = 1

| bench = 24

| arm span = 34 1/8

| hand span = 10

| note = All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/uche-nwaneri/32004e57-4143-1454-ee58-bfc338b04993 |title=Uche Nwaneri Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=January 4, 2023}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=12586&DraftYear=2007 |title=2007 Draft Scout Uche Nwaneri, Purdue NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile |access-date=January 4, 2023 |website=draftscout.com}}

}}

=Jacksonville Jaguars=

File:UcheNwaneri2009.jpg

Nwaneri saw limited action as a rookie during the Jaguars' 2007 playoff run, playing in nine games with one start.{{Cite web |title=Uche Nwaneri 2007 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/N/NwanUc20/gamelog/2007/ |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} The next season, he was elevated to starter after an injury to starting guard Vince Manuwai. In all, he appeared in 15 games during the 2008 season, starting 15 of them.{{Cite web |title=Uche Nwaneri 2008 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/N/NwanUc20/gamelog/2008/ |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He allowed 4.5 sacks during the season.

In 2009, Nwaneri and fellow guard Maurice Williams competed for the starting guard position opposite the returning Vince Manuwai. Nwaneri won the job; Williams was deactivated for much of the season before being released on December 5, 2009.{{cite web |url=http://www.rotoworld.com/Content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=NfL&id=1431 |title=Maurice Williams |website=www.rotoworld.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006100929/http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=NFL&id=1431 |archive-date=2008-10-06}} Nwaneri appeared in all 16 games, starting 13 of them.{{Cite web |title=Uche Nwaneri 2009 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/N/NwanUc20/gamelog/2009/ |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He was only credited with allowing one-half of a sack. Nwaneri was also not penalized during the 2009 season.

Nwaneri's most notable plays occurred in the 2011 season when he made two offensive fumble recoveries in separate games against the Carolina Panthers and the Baltimore Ravens.

Nwaneri was released on March 4, 2014.{{cite tweet|user=ryanohalloran|author=Ryan O'Halloran|number=440867940536438785|date=March 4, 2014|title=#jaguars have released starting right guard Uche Nwaneri.}}

=Dallas Cowboys=

Nwaneri signed with the Dallas Cowboys on June 25, 2014.{{Cite web |last=Helman |first=David |date=June 27, 2014 |title=Cowboys Officially Sign Veteran Guard Uche Nwaneri |url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/cowboys-officially-sign-veteran-guard-uche-nwaneri-350366 |access-date=January 14, 2023 |website=www.dallascowboys.com}} He was cut during final roster cuts on August 30, 2014.{{Cite web |last=Halprin |first=Dave |date=August 30, 2014 |title=Dallas Cowboys Roster Cuts 2014: 53-Man Roster Settled For Now, Ryan Williams Cut |url=https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2014/8/30/6086533/dallas-cowboys-roster-cuts-2014-53-man-roster-settled-for-now |access-date=January 14, 2023 |website=www.bloggingtheboys.com}} Following his release, he chose to retire from the NFL.

Death

Nwaneri died on December 30, 2022. Preliminary results indicated a possible heart attack. He was 38.{{cite web|url=https://eu.jconline.com/story/news/local/2023/01/02/former-purdue-nfl-player-dies-in-west-lafayette-home/69771206007/|title=Former Purdue, NFL player dies in West Lafayette home|work=Journal & Courier|first=Ron|last=Wilkins|date=2 January 2023|access-date=2 January 2023}}