Alvin Nnabuife
Encyclopedia
Alvin Nnabuife (born April 3, 1983) is an American football
player who has played at the linebacker
, safety
and cornerback
positions for the SMU Mustangs
(2001, 2003–2004), the Green Bay Packers
(2006), and the Cologne Centurions
(2007). He holds the NCAA record for most fumbles returned for a touchdown in a single game, having returend two fumbles for touchdowns in a single quarter in 2003.
, near Houston
. As a senior in high school, he received first-team All-District honors after recording 82 tackles and six pass break-ups during the 2000 season. Nnabuife also blocked six kicks during his senior year and lettered in track as well as football.
Nnabuife played for SMU as a freshman in 2001, appearing in all 11 games for the Mustangs. After missing most of the 2002 season as a medical redshirt, he played in all 12 games as a sophomore in 2003. He recorded 71 tackles as a sophomore.
As a junior in 2003, Nnabuife had a breakout season and became one of the top defensive football players in Conference USA
. After being moved from safety to linebacker, he led the 2003 SMU Mustangs football team with 80 tackles and was named the team's Defensive MVP. He also earned honorable mention All-Conference honors. In a November 2003 game against Nevada, Nnabuife tied an NCAA record with two fumble returns for touchdown in the same game—one for 95 yards and another for 17 yards. Both fumble returns against Nevada came in the third quarter. The record was set while Nnabuife was playing in only his second game at linebacker, and the 95-yard fumble return also set a school record for the longest fumble return. Nnabuife also had 12 tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown against Boise State in 2003. In SMU's 2003 game against Rice, Nnabuife had a team-season-high 17 tackles.
In July 2005, College Football News named Nnabuife to its pre-season All-Conference USA team at the defensive end position. The publication ranked Nnabuife as the 14th best player in Conference USA. In his senior year, Nnabuife recorded 53 total tackles and tied for first on team with four interceptions for team-high 119 in return yards.
In May 2006, Nnabuife signed as an undrafted free agent with the Oakland Raiders
. After being released by Oakland, he signed with the Green Bay Packers
in October 2006 and became part of the team's practice squad. He made his first big play with the Packers when he intercepted a forward pass deep thrown deep downfield by quarterback Aaron Rodgers
. However, he did not play in any regular season games with the Packers and in February 2007 the Packers allocated him to the Cologne Centurions
of the NFL Europe
. Nnabuife made the roster of the Centurions for the 2007 season. In September 2007, Nnabuife was released by the Packers organization.
His brother Bryant Nnabuife played college football for Blinn College
(2007) and the University of California, Berkeley
(2008–2010).
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player who has played at the linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
, safety
Safety
Safety is the state of being "safe" , the condition of being protected against physical, social, spiritual, financial, political, emotional, occupational, psychological, educational or other types or consequences of failure, damage, error, accidents, harm or any other event which could be...
and cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
positions for the SMU Mustangs
SMU Mustangs football
The SMU Mustangs football program is a college football team that represents Southern Methodist University . The team competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member Conference USA...
(2001, 2003–2004), the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
(2006), and the Cologne Centurions
Cologne Centurions
The Cologne Centurions were an American football team that played in NFL Europe. The Centurions began competing in the league in the 2004 season, having replaced the defunct Barcelona Dragons. They played their home games at RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne....
(2007). He holds the NCAA record for most fumbles returned for a touchdown in a single game, having returend two fumbles for touchdowns in a single quarter in 2003.
Biography
Nnabuife was born in Missouri City, TexasMissouri City, Texas
Missouri City is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas within the metropolitan area. The city is mostly in Fort Bend County with a small portion within Harris County. As of the 2000 U.S...
, near Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
. As a senior in high school, he received first-team All-District honors after recording 82 tackles and six pass break-ups during the 2000 season. Nnabuife also blocked six kicks during his senior year and lettered in track as well as football.
Nnabuife played for SMU as a freshman in 2001, appearing in all 11 games for the Mustangs. After missing most of the 2002 season as a medical redshirt, he played in all 12 games as a sophomore in 2003. He recorded 71 tackles as a sophomore.
As a junior in 2003, Nnabuife had a breakout season and became one of the top defensive football players in Conference USA
Conference USA
Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
. After being moved from safety to linebacker, he led the 2003 SMU Mustangs football team with 80 tackles and was named the team's Defensive MVP. He also earned honorable mention All-Conference honors. In a November 2003 game against Nevada, Nnabuife tied an NCAA record with two fumble returns for touchdown in the same game—one for 95 yards and another for 17 yards. Both fumble returns against Nevada came in the third quarter. The record was set while Nnabuife was playing in only his second game at linebacker, and the 95-yard fumble return also set a school record for the longest fumble return. Nnabuife also had 12 tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown against Boise State in 2003. In SMU's 2003 game against Rice, Nnabuife had a team-season-high 17 tackles.
In July 2005, College Football News named Nnabuife to its pre-season All-Conference USA team at the defensive end position. The publication ranked Nnabuife as the 14th best player in Conference USA. In his senior year, Nnabuife recorded 53 total tackles and tied for first on team with four interceptions for team-high 119 in return yards.
In May 2006, Nnabuife signed as an undrafted free agent with the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. After being released by Oakland, he signed with the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
in October 2006 and became part of the team's practice squad. He made his first big play with the Packers when he intercepted a forward pass deep thrown deep downfield by quarterback Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Charles Rodgers is an American football quarterback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . Rodgers was selected in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Packers...
. However, he did not play in any regular season games with the Packers and in February 2007 the Packers allocated him to the Cologne Centurions
Cologne Centurions
The Cologne Centurions were an American football team that played in NFL Europe. The Centurions began competing in the league in the 2004 season, having replaced the defunct Barcelona Dragons. They played their home games at RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne....
of the NFL Europe
NFL Europe
NFL Europe was an American football league which operated in Europe from 1991 until 2007. Backed by the National Football League , the largest professional American football league in the United States, it was founded as the World League of American Football to serve as a type of spring league...
. Nnabuife made the roster of the Centurions for the 2007 season. In September 2007, Nnabuife was released by the Packers organization.
His brother Bryant Nnabuife played college football for Blinn College
Blinn College
Blinn College is a two-year academic institution based in Brenham, Texas with campuses in Brenham, Bryan, Schulenburg, and Sealy. While the Brenham campus is Blinn's main campus, more than 70% of students attend the Bryan campus....
(2007) and the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
(2008–2010).