Obi Egekeze
Encyclopedia
Chukweume Obi Egekeze is an American football
placekicker
. He played college football
for the University of Maryland
from 2006 to 2008. He was the team's starting placekicker in 2007 and 2008, scoring 164 points, kicking 32 field goals, and converting 68 consecutive extra point
s without a miss during the 2007 and 2008 regular seasons. He ranks tenth in scoring in the 100-plus-year history of the Maryland Terrapins football
program.
in 1985. He attended Westside High School
in Augusta, where he was a three-year starter in football, basketball and soccer. A placekicker and punter for the school's football team, he was selected as an all-state player as a senior. Egekze also maintained a high school grade point average of 3.86 and was recruited to play college football
by several major universities, including the University of Georgia
, Ohio State University
, University of Texas, and Penn State
. He accepted a scholarship to attend the University of Maryland
.
after competing with Dan Ennis for the starting job as placekicker. He became the Terrapins' starting placekicker both in 2007 and 2008. Egekeze started all 26 games for the Terrapins in 2007 and 2008, scoring 164 points on 68 extra points (68-of-69 converted) and 32 field goals (32-for-47 converted). He ranks tenth in scoring in the history of the Maryland football program.
Egekeze suffered a slump early in the 2008 season that included five consecutive missed field goal attempts (three of which hit an upright). In late September 2008, a writer for The Baltimore Sun
wrote: "Here's a bad sign. I Googled 'Egekeze' and 'crossbar' and came up with 986 hits." As word of the slump spread, Egekeze received advice and encouragement from kickers across the United States, including Kansas City Chiefs
kicker, Nick Novak
and Pro Football Hall of Fame
r Jan Stenerud
. Egekeze said at the time, "It is completely different talking to another kicker who has had those up-and-down days. We all watch each other's stats and know how everyone is doing. We all know." Egekeze regained his form and converted several key field goals that led to important wins for the 2008 Maryland Terrapins football team
, including a game-winning kick in the rain during the closing seconds against North Carolina State
, another game-winning kick against North Carolina
to move Maryland into first place in the Atlantic Coast Conference
, and four field goals in a single game against #21 ranked Wake Forest
.
The slump and Egekeze's comeback after receiving support from fellow kickers was the subject of extensive press coverage in 2008 and 2009.
Egekeze received his undergraduate degree in finance in May 2008, but remained at the University of Maryland as a graduate student in international business. He was twice selected as an Academic All-ACC player.
as an undrafted free agent in 2010.
His brother Ndu Egekeze played basketball for Penn State from 2000 to 2004. Another brother, Nkem Egekeze, played soccer at Mercer University
.
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...
placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
. 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 University of Maryland
University of Maryland
When the term "University of Maryland" is used without any qualification, it generally refers to the University of Maryland, College Park.University of Maryland may refer to the following:...
from 2006 to 2008. He was the team's starting placekicker in 2007 and 2008, scoring 164 points, kicking 32 field goals, and converting 68 consecutive extra point
Extra Point
Extra Point is a twice-daily, two-minute segment on ESPN Radio that covers generic sports-related topical news and opinion. The AM edition airs Monday through Saturday at various times between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. ET, and the PM edition airs Monday through Friday between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET...
s without a miss during the 2007 and 2008 regular seasons. He ranks tenth in scoring in the 100-plus-year history of the Maryland Terrapins football
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
program.
Early years
Egekeze was born in Augusta, GeorgiaAugusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
in 1985. He attended Westside High School
Westside High School (Augusta, Georgia)
Westside High School is a public high school located in the West Augusta area of Augusta, Georgia. It is operated by the Richmond County School System...
in Augusta, where he was a three-year starter in football, basketball and soccer. A placekicker and punter for the school's football team, he was selected as an all-state player as a senior. Egekze also maintained a high school grade point average of 3.86 and was recruited to play 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...
by several major universities, including the University of 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...
, 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...
, University of Texas, and Penn State
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
. He accepted a scholarship to attend the University of Maryland
University of Maryland
When the term "University of Maryland" is used without any qualification, it generally refers to the University of Maryland, College Park.University of Maryland may refer to the following:...
.
University of Maryland
During the 2006 season, Egekeze handled kickoffs for the Maryland TerrapinsMaryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
after competing with Dan Ennis for the starting job as placekicker. He became the Terrapins' starting placekicker both in 2007 and 2008. Egekeze started all 26 games for the Terrapins in 2007 and 2008, scoring 164 points on 68 extra points (68-of-69 converted) and 32 field goals (32-for-47 converted). He ranks tenth in scoring in the history of the Maryland football program.
Egekeze suffered a slump early in the 2008 season that included five consecutive missed field goal attempts (three of which hit an upright). In late September 2008, a writer for The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun is the U.S. state of Maryland’s largest general circulation daily newspaper and provides coverage of local and regional news, events, issues, people, and industries....
wrote: "Here's a bad sign. I Googled 'Egekeze' and 'crossbar' and came up with 986 hits." As word of the slump spread, Egekeze received advice and encouragement from kickers across the United States, including Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
kicker, Nick Novak
Nick Novak
Nicholas Ryan "Nick" Novak is an American football placekicker for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
and Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
r Jan Stenerud
Jan Stenerud
Jan Stenerud is a former professional football player for the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs , and the NFL's Chiefs , Green Bay Packers , and Minnesota Vikings .-Background:...
. Egekeze said at the time, "It is completely different talking to another kicker who has had those up-and-down days. We all watch each other's stats and know how everyone is doing. We all know." Egekeze regained his form and converted several key field goals that led to important wins for the 2008 Maryland Terrapins football team
2008 Maryland Terrapins football team
The 2008 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football season...
, including a game-winning kick in the rain during the closing seconds against North Carolina State
NC State Wolfpack football
The NC State Wolfpack football team represents North Carolina State University in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Wolfpack currently compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference....
, another game-winning kick against North Carolina
North Carolina Tar Heels football
The North Carolina Tar Heels football team represents the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in collegiate level football. In Carolina’s first 121 seasons of football competition, the Tar Heels have compiled a record of 646–488–54, a winning percentage of .566...
to move Maryland into first place in the Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
, and four field goals in a single game against #21 ranked Wake Forest
Wake Forest Demon Deacons football
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represents Wake Forest University in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Wake Forest plays its home football games at BB&T Field....
.
The slump and Egekeze's comeback after receiving support from fellow kickers was the subject of extensive press coverage in 2008 and 2009.
Egekeze received his undergraduate degree in finance in May 2008, but remained at the University of Maryland as a graduate student in international business. He was twice selected as an Academic All-ACC player.
Later years and family
Egekeze subsequently signed to play professional football for the Omaha NighthawksOmaha Nighthawks
The Omaha Nighthawks are a professional American football team based in Omaha, Nebraska, which plays in the United Football League, joining the league as an expansion team in 2010. For their first season, the Nighthawks played their home games at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium before moving to TD...
as an undrafted free agent in 2010.
His brother Ndu Egekeze played basketball for Penn State from 2000 to 2004. Another brother, Nkem Egekeze, played soccer at Mercer University
Mercer University
Mercer University is an independent, private, coeducational university with a Baptist heritage located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Mercer is the only university of its size in the United States that offers programs in eleven diversified fields of study: liberal arts, business, education, music,...
.