James Ihedigbo life and biography

James Ugochu Ihedigbo is a Nigerian American football safety for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was signed by the Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Massachusetts.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

◊ Played in 23 NFL games, recording 14 tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble in addition to collecting 37 special teams tackles.
◊ Made NFL debut at BUF, 11/2/08.

2009 (JETS)
Played in 15 games and recorded six tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble as a contributor to the NFL’s number one ranked defense. ... Led special teams unit in tackles with 26...Garnered playing time in all three postseason games and finished with six tackles as well as 10 special teams tackles. POSTSEASON: (Divisional: 1/17 at SD)...Paced the special teams with six tackles and one forced fumble. SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: (1/3 vs. CIN)... Strip-sacked Bengals’ reserve QB J.T. O’Sullivan. (12/13 at TB)...Registered his first NFL sack, when he dropped Tampa Bay’s QB Josh Freeman for a four-yard loss.

2008 (JETS)
Played in eight games. ... Finished the season with 11 special teams tackles. SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: (12/14 vs. BUF). ... Saw action on special teams. ... Recorded three tackles. (11/23 at TEN). ... Registered two special teams tackles. (11/9 vs. STL). ... Saw action on special teams. ... Recorded two tackles, the first of his career. (11/2 at BUF)...Played in his first NFL regular-season game after he was signed to the active roster, 11/1/08.

BEFORE THE NFL

◊ Former walk-on turned three-year starter at UMass, who served as the team captain his senior season and recorded 251 total tackles (165 solo tackles), 12.5 sacks, eight interceptions and 19 passes defensed in his career.
◊ Named Walter Camp All-American, College Sporting News All-Star and Atlantic-10 First Team defensive back his senior season. Recorded 74 total tackles and four interceptions as a true freshman, including two picks and eight tackles in a win over Hofstra.
◊ Rushed for 1,012 yards and 18 touchdowns, while totaling over 2,000 all-purpose yards as a senior at Amherst Regional HS.
◊ Two-time All-Western Massachusetts and All-League selection, who served as a team captain and was named team defensive MVP his senior season.

OFF THE FIELD

◊ Founded the Hope Africa Foundation, focused on helping young people from Nigeria and the rest of Africa better themselves through higher education.
◊ Through his Hope Africa Foundation, James and two of his teammates: Vernon Gholston and David Clowney traveled to Haiti to assist in the recovery efforts following a massive earthquake in 2010. The Hope Africa Foundation teamed with Yele Haiti to bring supplies into the country and distribute them amongst the needy.
◊ Interested in helping youth ages 7-18...Has made many school visits proving your dreams through hard work and a relationship with God.
◊ Involved in the Nigerian Agricultural Technical Community College (NATAC), which was founded by his parents, Rose and Apollos.
◊ Joined students at public school/intermediate school 270 in Rosedale, NY in 2008 to help promote physical fitness and healthy living as a part of NFL’s What Moves U program. The campaign is sponsored by the American Heart Association and targets an increasingly inactive generation of children.
◊ Has visited patients at the Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown.
◊ Parents moved to the United States 30 years ago from Nigeria, and both received their doctorates from the University of Massachusetts.
◊ Has three brothers, Emeka, Nate and David, and one sister, Onyi.
◊ Majored in Sociology at UMass. ◊ Member of the basketball, lacrosse and track teams at Amherst Regional.
◊ Earned All-County honors in basketball at Amherst Regional.

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