Bobby Iwuchukwu
Encyclopedia
Robert Chukuma Iwuchukwu (born August 1, 1983 in Arlington, Texas
) is an American football
linebacker
who is currently a free agent. He was originally signed by the New Orleans Saints
in 2006. He played collegiately at Purdue
.
in Arlington, Texas. He was limited to five games as senior due to high ankle sprain.
Iwuchukwu also participated in track and field
, was a National Merit Scholar, a two-year selection to Who's Who of America's High School Athletics, and recipient of UTA Summer Science Institute Award for Excellence in Physics.
, an extra point at Michigan State
and another field goal against Washington
in the Sun Bowl
.
at Ohio State
as time expired to send game into overtime. Iwuchukwu also had three tackles (1 solo, 2 assists) in that game. He recorded a season-high five tackles (all solo) against Georgia
in the Capital One Bowl
after replacing the injured Gilbert Gardner
.
, he had a career-high 13 tackles (6 solo, 7 assists), including career-high tying 1.5 for loss, recovered fumble and blocked field goal. Iwuchukwu also blocked field goal at Notre Dame.
.
, Iwuchukwu signed a contract with the New Orleans Saints
as an undrafted free agent
on May 1. He was waived by the team on August 2, then signed by the San Francisco 49ers
a week later when linebacker Andre Torrey
tore his ACL
.
Iwuchukwu attended training camp with the 49ers but was released during final cutdowns on September 2. He was added to the team's practice squad the following day, but released some time later. He had a workout with the Denver Broncos
in November but was not signed.
Arlington, Texas
Arlington is a city in Tarrant County, Texas within the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. According to the 2010 census results, the city had a population of 365,438, making it the third largest municipality in the Metroplex...
) is an American football
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...
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...
who is currently a free agent. He was originally signed by the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
in 2006. He played collegiately at Purdue
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
.
High school career
Iwuchukwu was ranked the No. 94 overall in Southwest by Prep Football Report and was a two-year letterman at James Martin High SchoolMartin High School (Arlington, Texas)
James Martin High School is a secondary school serving grades 9-12 located in Arlington, Texas and is part of the Arlington Independent School District. The mascot of the school is the Warrior, and the school colors are black, red, and silver.-History:...
in Arlington, Texas. He was limited to five games as senior due to high ankle sprain.
Iwuchukwu also participated in track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
, was a National Merit Scholar, a two-year selection to Who's Who of America's High School Athletics, and recipient of UTA Summer Science Institute Award for Excellence in Physics.
2002
After being redshirted in 2001, Iwuchukwu appeared in all 13 games as reserve and on special teams in 2002. He had four solo tackles, including one for loss, and led the team with three blocked kicks. He blocked a field goal at Notre DameUniversity of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, an extra point at Michigan State
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
and another field goal against Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in the Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl
The Sun Bowl is an annual U.S. college football bowl game that is usually played at the end of December in El Paso, Texas. The Sun Bowl, along with the Sugar Bowl and the Orange Bowl are the second-oldest bowl games in the country, behind the Rose Bowl...
.
2003
Iwuchukwu appeared in all 13 games as reserve and on special teams in 2003, amassing 14 tackles (8 solo, 6 assists) and a blocked kick. He blocked a 41-yard field goal attempt by Mike NugentMike Nugent
Mike Nugent is an American football placekicker for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
at Ohio State
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
as time expired to send game into overtime. Iwuchukwu also had three tackles (1 solo, 2 assists) in that game. He recorded a season-high five tackles (all solo) against Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
in the Capital One Bowl
Capital One Bowl
The Capital One Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played in Orlando, Florida at the Citrus Bowl, and previously known as the Tangerine Bowl and the Florida Citrus Bowl...
after replacing the injured Gilbert Gardner
Gilbert Gardner
Gilbert Ravelle Gardner, II is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Purdue....
.
2004
In 2004, Iwuchukwu received the team's Most Improved Award for his defensive play in the spring. He started first eight games before suffering season-ending knee injury, yet ranked second on team with two blocked kicks. He also had 40 tackles (20 solo, 20 assists), including four for loss and 0.5 sacks, with one pass breakup and one fumble recovered. In a game against IllinoisUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
, he had a career-high 13 tackles (6 solo, 7 assists), including career-high tying 1.5 for loss, recovered fumble and blocked field goal. Iwuchukwu also blocked field goal at Notre Dame.
2005
As as senior in 2005, Iwuchukwu battled injuries and missed four of the team's 12 games. He finished the season with 27 tackles (18 solo), 4.5 tackles for loss, and one sack. He had a season high six tackles against Notre Dame, while his lone sack came against WisconsinUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
.
Professional career
At Purdue's Pro Day in March 2006, Iwuchukwu ran the 40-yard dash in 4.49 and 4.51 seconds. He also had a 35-inch vertical jump, 4.30 short shuttle, 11.81 long shuttle, 7.11 three-cone drill and 26 bench presses.2006
After going undrafted in the 2006 NFL Draft2006 NFL Draft
The 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by...
, Iwuchukwu signed a contract with the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
as an undrafted free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
on May 1. He was waived by the team on August 2, then signed by the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
a week later when linebacker Andre Torrey
Andre Torrey
Andre Torrey is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He formerly played for the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL....
tore his ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
.
Iwuchukwu attended training camp with the 49ers but was released during final cutdowns on September 2. He was added to the team's practice squad the following day, but released some time later. He had a workout with the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in November but was not signed.
2007
On February 6, 2007, Iwuchukwu signed a future contract with the Miami Dolphins. He was subsequently released on May 1.http://www.miamiherald.com/616/story/92923.htmlTrivia
- Tied for Purdue career lead with five blocked field goals (also Rosevelt ColvinRosevelt ColvinRosevelt Colvin, III is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. Drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL Draft, he played college football at Purdue....
, 1995–98). Iwuchukwu's six blocked kicks overall (also one extra point) are best in school history. - Has a youngest sister, Jacque Iwuchukwu (born October 18, 1984), who is a four-time Southland ConferenceSouthland ConferenceThe Southland Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the south central United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I for all sports; for football, it participates in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision...
-winning triple jumper. She is an alumnus of Texas State University.