Akwasi Owusu-Ansah
Encyclopedia
Akwasi Owusu-Ansah is an American football
safety and wide receiver
for the Dallas Cowboys
. Owusu-Ansah played collegiate football at Division II Indiana (Pa.)
, and was considered one of the top cornerback and top small school prospects for the 2010 NFL Draft
. Ultimately, he was selected in the fourth round, 126th overall. He was the 14th cornerback selected, and the second player from Division II behind Jared Veldheer
. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi
fraternity.
. He graduated from Whetstone in 2006.
Owusu-Ansah is Whetstone's career leading rusher for yards and touchdowns and led the Braves to their first back-to-back winning seasons in over 10 years. Owusu-Ansah received All-Ohio Honorable Mention honors his senior year.
Crimson Hawks
of NCAA Division II. He began attracting NFL attention following the 2008 season when had eight interceptions, including seven in the last four games, and three against Gannon University
. Prior to his senior season in 2009 he was ranked as the ninth-best cornerback in the nation, and the only non-Division I player in the top 18. During his senior season he returned three punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns and ranked in the top 15 nationally for kick and punt return average yards. He set school records for punt return yards and average and kickoff return yards.
He was selected for the 2010 East-West Shrine Game
, but could not participate due to a shoulder injury suffered during his senior season. He later underwent surgery performed by James Bradley, team doctor of the Pittsburgh Steelers
, in March 2010. Just before the surgery, Owusu-Ansah participated in the Pro Day workout at Ohio State University
, where he recorded the fastest 40 yard dash
time. Following his senior season, he was selected first-team All-America
n by the American Football Coaches Association
, second-team by the Associated Press
and first-team All-PSAC
for defense and special teams.
Upon being drafted, he was the seventh player selected from IUP, and the third-highest selection for the school after Jim Haslett
in 1979 and Leander Jordan
in 2000.
He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Gamma Mu Chapter. He is frequently referred to as "Kwasi".
in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft as the 126th overall pick. On July 19, 2010 he agreed to a four year contract worth $2.24 million with the Cowboys. As a rookie, Owusu-Ansah earned the job as the team's primary kickoff returner. He was placed on injured reserve
on November 10, 2010, thus ending his rookie season.
On September 3, 2011 Owusu-Ansah was released by the Cowboys. He cleared waivers and signed to their practice squad on September 4, 2011. During the 2011 NFL season, the Cowboys moved Owusu-Ansah from free safety to wide receiver. He was cut from the team on November 30, 2011.
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...
safety and wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
for the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
. Owusu-Ansah played collegiate football at Division II Indiana (Pa.)
IUP Crimson Hawks
The Indiana University of Pennsylvania Crimson Hawks, commonly known as the IUP Crimson Hawks and formerly called the IUP Indians are the varsity athletic teams that represent Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The university and all of its teams compete in the Pennsylvania State Athletic...
, and was considered one of the top cornerback and top small school prospects for the 2010 NFL Draft
2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
. Ultimately, he was selected in the fourth round, 126th overall. He was the 14th cornerback selected, and the second player from Division II behind Jared Veldheer
Jared Veldheer
Jared Veldheer is an American football offensive tackle for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Raiders in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft, after playing college football at Hillsdale....
. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi
Omega Psi Phi
Omega Psi Phi is a fraternity and is the first African-American national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black college. Omega Psi Phi was founded on November 17, 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.. The founders were three Howard University juniors, Edgar Amos...
fraternity.
High school
Akwasi Owusu-Ansah attended Whetstone High School in Columbus, OhioColumbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. He graduated from Whetstone in 2006.
Owusu-Ansah is Whetstone's career leading rusher for yards and touchdowns and led the Braves to their first back-to-back winning seasons in over 10 years. Owusu-Ansah received All-Ohio Honorable Mention honors his senior year.
College career
Owusu-Ansah played college football for the IUPIndiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana University of Pennsylvania is a public university in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, USA. The university is northeast of Pittsburgh. It is the largest university in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and is the commonwealth's fifth largest university...
Crimson Hawks
IUP Crimson Hawks
The Indiana University of Pennsylvania Crimson Hawks, commonly known as the IUP Crimson Hawks and formerly called the IUP Indians are the varsity athletic teams that represent Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The university and all of its teams compete in the Pennsylvania State Athletic...
of NCAA Division II. He began attracting NFL attention following the 2008 season when had eight interceptions, including seven in the last four games, and three against Gannon University
Gannon University
Gannon University is a private, co-educational Catholic university offering associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees, certificates and doctoral degrees and is located in Erie, Pennsylvania. Gannon University has an alumni base numbering around 31,500. Current enrollment is 4,238.Gannon's...
. Prior to his senior season in 2009 he was ranked as the ninth-best cornerback in the nation, and the only non-Division I player in the top 18. During his senior season he returned three punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns and ranked in the top 15 nationally for kick and punt return average yards. He set school records for punt return yards and average and kickoff return yards.
He was selected for the 2010 East-West Shrine Game
East-West Shrine Game
The East–West Shrine Game is an annual post-season college football all-star game played each January since 1925. The game is sponsored by the fraternal group Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and the net proceeds are earmarked to some of the Shrine's charitable works, most notably the Shriners...
, but could not participate due to a shoulder injury suffered during his senior season. He later underwent surgery performed by James Bradley, team doctor of the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
, in March 2010. Just before the surgery, Owusu-Ansah participated in the Pro Day workout at Ohio State University
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...
, where he recorded the fastest 40 yard dash
40 yard dash
The 40-yard dash is a sprint covering . It is primarily run to evaluate the speed of American football players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting. A player's recorded time in the 40 can have a heavy impact on his prospects in college or professional football...
time. Following his senior season, he was selected first-team All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n by the American Football Coaches Association
American Football Coaches Association
The American Football Coaches Association is an association of over 11,000 football coaches and staff on all levels. According to its constitution, some of the main goals of the American Football Coaches Association are to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and the profession of...
, second-team by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
and first-team All-PSAC
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference that participates in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II. The conference is composed of 16 full-time members within Pennsylvania and one associate member in New York...
for defense and special teams.
Upon being drafted, he was the seventh player selected from IUP, and the third-highest selection for the school after Jim Haslett
Jim Haslett
James Donald "Jim" Haslett is an American football coach and former linebacker. He is currently the defensive coordinator of the Washington Redskins. Previously, he served as the head coach for the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League, and the New Orleans Saints and St...
in 1979 and Leander Jordan
Leander Jordan
Leander Jordan is an American football offensive tackle currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.-External links:*...
in 2000.
He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Gamma Mu Chapter. He is frequently referred to as "Kwasi".
Dallas Cowboys
On April 24, 2010 Owusu-Ansah was selected by the Dallas CowboysDallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft as the 126th overall pick. On July 19, 2010 he agreed to a four year contract worth $2.24 million with the Cowboys. As a rookie, Owusu-Ansah earned the job as the team's primary kickoff returner. He was placed on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
on November 10, 2010, thus ending his rookie season.
On September 3, 2011 Owusu-Ansah was released by the Cowboys. He cleared waivers and signed to their practice squad on September 4, 2011. During the 2011 NFL season, the Cowboys moved Owusu-Ansah from free safety to wide receiver. He was cut from the team on November 30, 2011.