Haruki Nakamura
Encyclopedia
Haruki Robert Nakamura (中村春樹 Nakamura Haruki, nakamu͍ɽa haɽu͍ki; born April 18, 1986) is an American
football safety for the Baltimore Ravens
of the National Football League
.
competitions. His mother is a fourth degree black belt, and his late father Ryozo was an eighth degree black belt. His brothers Mako and Yoshi were each international judo champions. Yoshi was a two-time Ohio state wrestling champion and also competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials. Nakamura's sister, Kimi was a national champion in judo.
Nakamura attended St. Edward High School
, an all-boys Catholic high school on the Cleveland's west side. He played football, playing both wide receiver and defensive back. In 2003, he was instrumental in the team's runner-up finish in the Ohio Division I "big school" playoffs. He earned second-team "All-Ohio" honors as a defensive back in his senior season. He graduated in 2004.
He attended the University of Cincinnati
, where he majored in Criminal Justice
. He played college football
for the Bearcats
, playing free safety and on special teams. He earned first-team "All-Big East" honors.
On April 26, 2008, he was drafted by the Ravens in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft
, the 206th player overall.
of the NFL in the 2008 NFL Draft
.
Nakamura had 12 tackles in 16 games of the 2008 season.
On January 10, 2009, Nakamura recorded a career high five tackles in the Baltimore Ravens 13-10 upset of the AFC's top-seeded Tennessee Titans.
On November 16, 2009, Nakamura was injured on the opening kickoff of a Monday Night Football
game versus the Cleveland Browns
in his hometown of Cleveland. He suffered a broken right ankle attempting to make a tackle on special teams. Two days later, he was placed on the injured reserve list, ending his season.
In the 2010 Preseason Nakamura has shown the signs of having a breakout season as evidenced in the pre-season week-three game against the New York Giants
. Nakamura not only caught an interception that Coach John Harbaugh described as being “as good a play as you’re ever going to see,” “I don’t know how he came up with the ball. He’s just a tremendous athlete. He’s a football player, through and through.” Nakamura also sacked the Giants' quarterback for a loss in that same game. He also returned a fake kickoff against the Washington Redskins
. Nakamura had 24 tackles in 2010 after just four before the injury in 2009.
In a Week 4 game against the St. Louis Rams
in 2011, Nakamaru was injured and will likely miss about a month. He has recorded zero tackles so far.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
football safety for the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.
Early life
Nakamura's parents, Karen and Ryozo, were each competitive in international judoJudo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
competitions. His mother is a fourth degree black belt, and his late father Ryozo was an eighth degree black belt. His brothers Mako and Yoshi were each international judo champions. Yoshi was a two-time Ohio state wrestling champion and also competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials. Nakamura's sister, Kimi was a national champion in judo.
Nakamura attended St. Edward High School
St. Edward High School (Lakewood, Ohio)
St. Edward High School is private, all-male Catholic, college-preparatory high school located in Lakewood, Ohio, a western Cleveland suburb. It was founded in 1949 and is operated in the by the Midwest Province of the Brothers of Holy Cross, Notre Dame, Indiana. It is one of three remaining...
, an all-boys Catholic high school on the Cleveland's west side. He played football, playing both wide receiver and defensive back. In 2003, he was instrumental in the team's runner-up finish in the Ohio Division I "big school" playoffs. He earned second-team "All-Ohio" honors as a defensive back in his senior season. He graduated in 2004.
He attended the University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
, where he majored in Criminal Justice
Criminal justice
Criminal Justice is the system of practices and institutions of governments directed at upholding social control, deterring and mitigating crime, or sanctioning those who violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitation efforts...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the Bearcats
Cincinnati Bearcats football
The Cincinnati Bearcats football program represents the University of Cincinnati in a college football. They compete at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level as members of the Big East Conference. The Bearcat football program is one of the nation's oldest, having fielded a team as...
, playing free safety and on special teams. He earned first-team "All-Big East" honors.
On April 26, 2008, he was drafted by the Ravens in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
, the 206th player overall.
Baltimore Ravens
Haruki Nakamura was drafted by the Baltimore RavensBaltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
of the NFL in the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
.
Nakamura had 12 tackles in 16 games of the 2008 season.
On January 10, 2009, Nakamura recorded a career high five tackles in the Baltimore Ravens 13-10 upset of the AFC's top-seeded Tennessee Titans.
On November 16, 2009, Nakamura was injured on the opening kickoff of a Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
game versus the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in his hometown of Cleveland. He suffered a broken right ankle attempting to make a tackle on special teams. Two days later, he was placed on the injured reserve list, ending his season.
In the 2010 Preseason Nakamura has shown the signs of having a breakout season as evidenced in the pre-season week-three game against the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Nakamura not only caught an interception that Coach John Harbaugh described as being “as good a play as you’re ever going to see,” “I don’t know how he came up with the ball. He’s just a tremendous athlete. He’s a football player, through and through.” Nakamura also sacked the Giants' quarterback for a loss in that same game. He also returned a fake kickoff against the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
. Nakamura had 24 tackles in 2010 after just four before the injury in 2009.
In a Week 4 game against the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
in 2011, Nakamaru was injured and will likely miss about a month. He has recorded zero tackles so far.