Andrew Nowacki
Encyclopedia
Andrew Nowacki is a professional Canadian football
wide receiver
for the Edmonton Eskimos
of the Canadian Football League
. He was drafted by the Eskimos in the third round of the 2004 CFL Draft
. He played college football
for the Murray State Racers
.
before transferring after two seasons to Murray State University
. From 2001–2003, Nowacki played in 24 games recording 53 receptions for 608 receiving yards. He led the Racers in receiving as a redshirt
senior with 43 catches for 477 yards.
in the 2004 CFL Draft
. As a rookie, Nowacki rarely played only recording one catch for seven yards. Entering 2005, Nowacki's roster spot was in jeopardy before the Eskimos final season against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
. He ended up on the team's inactive list to begin the season. He was activated on July 14 after running back
Mike Bradley suffered a knee
injury. After making a few appearances, Nowacki suffered a finger
injury causing him to miss a few games. He was re–activated on September 29. In 2005, Nowacki recorded 18 catches for a total of 151 yards. Following the selection of Pat Woodcock
by Edmonton in the CFL Dispersal Draft
, Nowacki was possibly going to lose his job as the Eskimos fifth receiver. Despite the Woodcock selection, Nowacki recorded 17 catches for 147 yards in 2006. He was re-signed by Edmonton on January 11, 2007. In the Eskimos first preseason game on June 16, 2007, Nowacki recorded four receptions for a total of 46 yards. After a few injuries to the Eskimos receivers to begin the season, Nowacki began to take a bigger role in the offense. On August 13, 2007 in a game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
, Nowacki caught his first career touchdown
pass. On the following possession for Hamilton their receiver Jason French
also a Murray State University graduate, caught a touchdown. The two touchdown catches for Nowacki and French came one minute apart. In the game where quarterback
Ricky Ray
broke Warren Moon
's Eskimos record for most passing yards in Eskimos history, Nowacki caught a five yard touchdown pass. In 2007, Nowacki had 47 receptions for 465 yards with two touchdowns. In 2008, Nowacki played in every game recording 28 catches for 369 yards with two touchdowns. He started the West Semi-Final and caught three passes for 27 yards.
at Southeast Missouri State University
.
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
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 Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. He was drafted by the Eskimos in the third round of the 2004 CFL Draft
2004 CFL Draft
-Round one:-Round two:-Round Three:-Round Four:-Round Five:-Round Six:...
. 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 Murray State Racers
Murray State Racers
Murray State University features 15 varsity sports teams. Both men's and women's teams are called the Racers, with the exception of the baseball team which is known as the Thoroughbreds. They participate in the NCAA's Division I, in the Ohio Valley Conference. Football competes the Football...
.
College career
Nowacki began his collegiate career at Scottsdale Community CollegeScottsdale Community College
Scottsdale Community College, is located in Salt River, Arizona, a suburb/rural area of Phoenix. Scottsdale Community College is a two-year college located on the eastern boundary of the city of Scottsdale, Arizona, on 160 acres of land belonging to the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community...
before transferring after two seasons to Murray State University
Murray State University
Murray State University, located in the city of Murray, Kentucky, is a four-year public university with approximately 10,400 students. The school is Kentucky’s only public university to be listed in the U.S.News & World Report regional university top tier for the past 20 consecutive years...
. From 2001–2003, Nowacki played in 24 games recording 53 receptions for 608 receiving yards. He led the Racers in receiving as a redshirt
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
senior with 43 catches for 477 yards.
Edmonton Eskimos
Nowacki was selected in the third round (26th overall) by the Edmonton EskimosEdmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
in the 2004 CFL Draft
2004 CFL Draft
-Round one:-Round two:-Round Three:-Round Four:-Round Five:-Round Six:...
. As a rookie, Nowacki rarely played only recording one catch for seven yards. Entering 2005, Nowacki's roster spot was in jeopardy before the Eskimos final season against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
. He ended up on the team's inactive list to begin the season. He was activated on July 14 after running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Mike Bradley suffered a knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
injury. After making a few appearances, Nowacki suffered a finger
Finger
A finger is a limb of the human body and a type of digit, an organ of manipulation and sensation found in the hands of humans and other primates....
injury causing him to miss a few games. He was re–activated on September 29. In 2005, Nowacki recorded 18 catches for a total of 151 yards. Following the selection of Pat Woodcock
Pat Woodcock
Patrick Ian Woodcock is a Canadian football wide receiver who is currently a free agent.Woodcock attended American College at Syracuse University between 1997 and 2000 and he attended Holy Trinity Catholic High School, which is located in Kanata, Ontario...
by Edmonton in the CFL Dispersal Draft
CFL Dispersal Draft
The CFL player dispersal draft was held with the disbanding of the Ottawa Renegades franchise in 2006. The draft took place on April 12th and consisted of eight rounds, with Kerry Joseph being selected first overall by Saskatchewan.-Draft Results:...
, Nowacki was possibly going to lose his job as the Eskimos fifth receiver. Despite the Woodcock selection, Nowacki recorded 17 catches for 147 yards in 2006. He was re-signed by Edmonton on January 11, 2007. In the Eskimos first preseason game on June 16, 2007, Nowacki recorded four receptions for a total of 46 yards. After a few injuries to the Eskimos receivers to begin the season, Nowacki began to take a bigger role in the offense. On August 13, 2007 in a game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
, Nowacki caught his first career touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
pass. On the following possession for Hamilton their receiver Jason French
Jason French
Jason French is a former professional Canadian football slotback. He was drafted by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the second round of the 2001 CFL Draft. He played college football for the Murray State Racers....
also a Murray State University graduate, caught a touchdown. The two touchdown catches for Nowacki and French came one minute apart. In the game where quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Ricky Ray
Ricky Ray
Ricky Ray is a Canadian and American football quarterback who has played in the Canadian Football League and af2, as well as spending time on a roster in the National Football League...
broke Warren Moon
Warren Moon
Harold Warren Moon is a former American professional gridiron football quarterback who played for the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos and the National Football League's Houston Oilers, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs...
's Eskimos record for most passing yards in Eskimos history, Nowacki caught a five yard touchdown pass. In 2007, Nowacki had 47 receptions for 465 yards with two touchdowns. In 2008, Nowacki played in every game recording 28 catches for 369 yards with two touchdowns. He started the West Semi-Final and caught three passes for 27 yards.
Personal
He married his girlfriend Erica on February 14, 2009. His sister Renata coaches volleyballVolleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
at Southeast Missouri State University
Southeast Missouri State University
Southeast Missouri State University, is a public, accredited university located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, United States, near the banks of the Mississippi River. The institution, having started as a normal school, has a traditional strength in teacher education...
.