Iheanyi Uwaezuoke

Iheanyi Uwaezuoke

Date of birth	(1973-07-24) July 24, 1973
Place of birth	Lagos, Nigeria
Career information
Position(s)	Wide receiver/Punt Returner
US college	California
NFL draft	1996 / Round: 5 / Pick 160
Career stats
Playing stats at DatabaseFootball.com

Iheanyi Uwaezuoke (pronounced EE-HAH-NYEE' 'OO-WAY-ZO-KAY) is an African Professional Athlete.(born July 24, 1973 in Lagos, Nigeria) Uwaezuoke's specialty is American Football. He played 5 seasons in the National Football League before retiring in 2001. Originally taken by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1996 NFL Draft,(draft selection 160 overall) he finished his NFL career as the Carolina Panther's All Time Leading Punt Returner for a career (11.2 yards per attempt). A 1996 Impact Rookie, as named by Skybox/Ultra Trading Card Company, Uwaezuoke finished his short Pro Football career (a little under 60 games) officially with three Leader Boards (top ten performer in a skill position) to his credit. His 696 total punt return yards ranks 237 on the NFL All Time List. He has the fewest number of games to his credit of any player with that distinction. In the 2000 season Uwaezuoke averaged 17.3 yards per punt return, highest in the NFL. A League minimum for total number of attempts kept Uwaezuoke's (a late season addition to the roster)record numbers off the League's official annals. Both his career(11.2ypr) and his year 2000 season average (17.3) easily place Uwaezuoke on the NFL's top 20 All Time list, as he fell just under 10 attempts shy of qualifying officially. Following a top ten ranking at his Pro Position in 1997 (just his first year on the job), Uwaezuoke, at Coach Steve Mariucci's request spent the 1998 Preseason exclusively at his natural position: Wide Receiver. He amassed 13 receptions in 5 games, which tied for the team lead and was also among the NFL's statistical leaders heading into the Regular Season. Though seldom targeted, by November, his 22.3 yards per reception was tops on the club and comfortably among the elite in the NFL. In between NFL Leader Boards and record setting numbers at San Francisco and Carolina, Uwaezuoke also signed contracts with the Detroit Lions and the Miami Dolphins. A major contributor, he saw both clubs reach the NFL Playoffs for the first time in multiple seasons.

One of College Football's Top Ranked Players in 1994 and 1995. Uwaezuoke starred at Wide Receiver for the Golden Bears of the University of California. In 1994 he finished 15th in the nation (Div 1) in total receptions (just 10 games). In 1995 he compiled 30 receptions and 506 yards and 3 touchdowns in just 6 complete outings, missing the front and back ends of his senior year due to hand and knee injuries. A Preseason Hula Bowl All Star selection, Uwaezuoke still finished top ten in school annals in both total receptions and total receiving yards for a career, and held the school record for total receptions in a game (13). A natural athlete, he was named to the Sophomore All America Honorable Mention squad in 1993 by the Football News, just his seventh season of organized team sports and his first taste of real action in the Pacific 12 Conference. The Bears would go on to defeat Iowa in the Alamo Bowl and bring the Builder's Square Trophy back to Berkeley.

A 1991 Preseason All America Wide Receiver(Blue Chip Report), Uwaezuoke earned 5 All League honors (same year) in three sports at Harvard-Westlake High in Studio City California. An All California Southern Section Defensive player, he opted to play Offense for the Daily News All Stars. Uwaezuoke received mention as "Best of the Rest" by the prestigious Long Beach Press Telegram's Best in the West Team publication. Student Sports Magazine twice named him to the All Name Team, as the State of California's Player of the Year.

Also stellar in basketball and track and field, Uwaezuoke's high school track team went undefeated in both the '90 and '91 seasons when he was a member. He placed 2nd at the California Southern Section Finals in '91 (despite a pulled hamstring) with a PR of 45 ft 2in in the Tripple Jump (still a school record). He also ran the 3rd leg on the San Fernando Valley League Championship 4x100 relay team. In addition to recruiting interest from ACC, Pac 12, and Ivy League schools in American Football, Uwaezuoke also took a recruiting visit to Division 3 Occidental College as a basketball prospect.

In 2007-08 Speedy, as he is referred to in basketball circles, was invited to try out for the National Basketball Association's Developmental League, a feeder organization to the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Clippers and the Atlanta Hawks.

In addition to his sports accolades, Uwaezuoke's magazine features include: 17 Magazine, Dysonna, as well as excerpts from the Sporting News, Pro Football Weekly and Sports Illustrated, to go along various American national and regional television appearances plus spots on BBC, and Africa networks. Uwaezuoke is currently in pre production of an autobiographical-pictorial highlighting his American sports exploits.