Uchenna Nwosu (#42) just finished up his final year as a University of Southern California (USC) Trojan. He’s a powerful linebacker, but also a political science major.
Nwosu stands 6’2 tall and weighs in at 240lbs. His career stats include 169 total tackles, 94 solo tackles, 6 deflections, 12.5 sacks, and 1 forced fumble.
- Senior Year: 75 total tackles, 7.5 sacks; #3 in PAC-12 sacks for the year, #13 in PAC-12 passes defended
- Junior Year: 53 total tackles, 5 deflections, 1 fumble; 2016 John McKay award winner (underclassmen with most competitive spirit)
- Soph Year: Backup outside linebacker (special teams); 32 total tackles
- Fresh Year: 9 total tackles
Despite the flashy senior year numbers, the University of Southern California took a gamble in signing Uchenna Nwosu. He was not the obvious choice, having only been a starter once in his high school career. Childhood friends said he felt like he had more of a future in the sport of basketball and he had to be convinced to stick with football. Nwosu’s path was just beginning. Nwosu’s high school coach believed in his potential to be great and was able to sell him to the SC scouts.
“You can always feel his presence. He’s the king of the lions”. -Head Coach Clay Helton
In all of the articles I read about him over the years, his teammates always talk about the same thing- passion, heart, and competitiveness. Most told stories about how he doesn’t even like to lose to his teammates during practice, because he takes it very seriously.
PASSION
“Passion is when you put more energy into something than is required to do it; to be passionate is to have a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something; to be passionate is to suffer for something”
Uchenna Nwosu’s Southern California story began with passion and ended with passion. We all mess up, but for athletes on basically any team in a major sports city like Los Angeles, people are not quick to forgive or forget. Nwosu was sent home in 2014 for coming to blows with another Trojan, and things seemed bleak. He was dismissed from practice, hounded by reporters, and branded as somewhat of a troublemaker who was too erratic to be on the team.
ROAD TO REDEMPTION
But then, I remember reading the report that Nwosu was coming back to SC the following year. I knew I couldn’t ignore this story, so I paid attention to him. As a society sometimes we are quick to publicize and criticize the fall of another, but then we don’t stick around for what happens next. For Nwosu, redemption was pretty sweet.
Coming back to the Trojans under Coach Helton, Nwosu learned how to harness his drive and passion, turning it into hits on the field. His father, Henry Nwosu, says his son was inspired by Helton and flourished under him. He says Helton helped him control his temperament.
“I was touched by the way Coach rallied around the boy. He helped him become a man.”
Throughout his tenure at Southern California, Nwosu grew and matured into a nightmare inducing force on defense. His surprising speed, crazy athleticism, thunderous sacks, and monster swats make him one of the most complete linebackers out there.
You know when you eat all your McDonalds french fries too quickly, and wish you saved a few? The feeling when you find a few bonus fries sitting in the bag waiting for you is one of elation, surprise, and pure joy. This was the feeling I got watching Uchenna Nwosu his junior and senior years at USC. He showed up for the defense whenever they needed it, and became one of the most pivotal pieces of the team.
“He’s one of the best defensive player in college football right now. I don’t know why QBs keep thinking they can throw his way and complete the pass.” -Teammate Chris Hawkins
Nwosu was also…
- Voted first team All- American
- 11TH in the nation on pass breakups (highest for a linebacker)
- Had a defensive play in the Championship game this year that basically guaranteed SC the PAC 12 title
- Voted All PAC-12 Football first team
- 2017 Cotton Bowl Stats (v Ohio State): 3 sacks, 1 QB hit, 2 QB hurries
- Voted Team MVP along with QB Sam Darnold his senior year
Nwosu is an intelligent, passionate, complete linebacker who I cannot wait to see on the field on Sundays going forward. His ability to read the scramble plays and get out ahead will make him invaluable on almost any team. He defends the run and he’s also a fellow African chasing his dream as am I. I would love to see him in San Francisco with my beloved Niners, but the hometown crowd would love him in an LA Rams jersey too. The jersey won’t matter because I will watch anyway and if you haven’t committed to do the same, you may need to read this article again.
