Topic: Kenechi Udeze

Kenechi Nduka Udeze (pronounced /kəˈnɛtʃi uːˈdɛzeɪ/; born March 5, 1983 in Los Angeles, California) is a former American football defensive end for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Vikings 20th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Southern California. He retired in July 2009 because of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Udeze attended the University of Southern California, and was a three-year starter and helped his team to a 2004 Rose Bowl victory as a junior. He finished his college career with 135 tackles (51 of them for a loss), 28 sacks (a school record), 14 forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, one interception, five pass deflections, and two blocked kicks.

Udeze was drafted by the Vikings out of USC in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft with the 20th overall selection. During his rookie season with the Vikings, he started 15 games and recorded 36 tackles, five sacks, one forced fumble, and one pass deflected. As a second year pro Udeze was injured in the Vikings third game of the season with cartilage damage in his left knee, which kept him out the rest of the year. Udeze finished the season with 3 games started, 5 tackles, and one sack. In 2006 he was once again the starter at left defensive end, playing 16 games, starting 15 and recorded 29 tackles and no sacks. The following year he again playing in all 16 games, with 15 starts, and had 47 tackles and five sacks.