Uchenna Nwosu
LINEBACKER
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Although Uchenna Nwosu is still building his resume on the field, he has already showed glimpses of greatness...much to the delight of the Chargers coaching staff. In 2018, it was Uchenna that strip-sacked Ravens QB Lamar Jackson in the waning moments of the Chargers wild card playoff game...sealing the victory for the Bolts. In 2019, with another year of experience under his belt, Uchenna is make the most his opportunity, rotating in for injured Pro Bowler Melvin Ingram. The Bolts' defense hasn't missed a beat.
Uchenna has shown dedication and commitment to community efforts this year through a number of different events and programs, including: Underwriting registration fees and personally COACHING a co-ed NFL Flag football team from local Boys & Girls Club, leading them to the championship, rallying fans to donate canned goods at food drive with ABC, helping Tyson Foods distribute nearly 40K pounds of protein to the LA Reg. Food Bank, and donating tickets/experiences to Children's Diabetes Fund.
Although only in his second NFL season, Uchenna has shown dedication and commitment to community efforts in years past through a number of different events and programs, including: Donating his MCMC to Children's Diabetes Foundation, participating in a Play60 camp and Children's Hospital of LA visit with his fellow rookies, and helping kickoff a multi-year donation from Chargers to keep lights at Parks/Rec sites on longer through Mayor of LA's 'Summer Night Lights' aimed at gang reduction.
Consistency and reliability are two words that perfectly describe Uchenna's character. Community work is not every NFL player's favorite off day activity, but whenever there's a youth football team waiting for autographs after a long training camp practice, Uchenna is first in line, sharpie in hand. Whenever another player bails last minute on a community event, Uchenna is always willing to step up and fill in. Being from South LA has given him a unique passion that drives him to give back to the community that helped him grow into the man he is today.
Ask any player, coach or staff member in the Chargers organization, and they will tell you that Uchenna deserves the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award just as much as any player in the NFL. His youth and inexperience may not make him the ideal candidate, but his resume in the community speaks for itself. Uchenna is even currently working to resurrect his old youth football team in South LA after they disbanded years ago. He also has plans to possibly hold a backpack giveaway at the beginning of next school year. His greatest passion lies in benefiting the Children's Diabetes Foundation, which he'll be representing on his My Cause My Cleats again in 2019.
