Mathias Kiwanuka life and biography

* Originally a 1st round (32nd pick overall) draft choice by the Giants in 2006.

GIANTS NOTES

* Versatile defender made a successful transition from defensive end to linebacker in 2007 and then back to end in 2008.
* Kiwanuka started 9 games in 2006, the most by a Giants rookie defensive end since Fred Dryer started 14 games in 1969.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

* Has played in 58 regular season games with 40 starts – 31 at defensive end and 9 at strongside linebacker. Kiwanuka has also started 2 postseason games at defensive end…Career totals include 242 tackles (138 solo), 19.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, 8 passes defensed, 7 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries and 8 special teams tackles.
* In 2009, played in all 16 games with 6 starts – 1 at left end (at Tampa Bay, 9/27) and the last 5 games of the season at right end. Finished 2nd on the team with 81 tackles (45 solo), 1st in both QB hits (41) and QB hurries (20), 3 sacks, 6 tackles for losses, 2 forced fumbles and 3 special teams tackles…Had a season-high 11 tackles (6 solo) vs. Carolina (12/27) and 10 (5 solo) at Washington (12/21)…Posted sacks at Kansas City (10/4), vs. Oakland (10/11), when he also forced a fumble that led to a Giants field goal), and vs. Arizona (10/25).
* In 2008, Kiwanuka entered training camp as the starting strongside linebacker, but returned to defensive end when Osi Umenyiora suffered a season-ending knee injury…He started all 16 games and the NFC Divisional Playoff game at right defensive end…Finished the season with 59 tackles (28 solo), a career-high 8.0 sacks, 13 tackles for losses, 9 QB hurries, a team-high 22 QB hits, 2 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries.
* Opened the season with a team-high 8 tackles and 1 QB hit vs. Washington (9/4)…Recorded his 1st sack of the season when he dropped Carson Palmer for an 8-yard loss in the 2nd quarter and finished with 6 tackles vs. Cincinnati (9/21)…Was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week at Pittsburgh (10/26) after finishing with 2.5 sacks, 2 QB hurries and 4 QB hits. Sacked Ben Roethlisberger for a 9-yard loss in the 2nd quarter and tackled Roethlisberger for an 8-yard loss and for no gain in the 4th quarter.
* In 2007, he won the starting strongside linebacker job after spending the entire offseason learning the new position following a rookie year spent at defensive end…Played in 10 games with 9 starts, and finished the season with 47 tackles (24 solo), 4.5 sacks, 4 passes defensed, 1 forced fumble, 1 QB hurry and 6 QB hits…Had 7 tackles (4 solo) and a career-high 3 sacks vs. Philadelphia (9/30). Dropped Donovan McNabb for losses of 3 and 1 yards in the 3rd quarter and 2 yards in the 4th quarter…Contributed to a defense that set a team record with 12 sacks, easily breaking the previous Giants record of 9 sacks.
* Kiwanuka's season ended at Detroit (11/18) when he suffered a fractured left fibula on the game's 2nd play from scrimmage. He was placed on injured reserve the following day.
* As a rookie in 2006, played in all 16 regular season games with 9 starts…Also started the NFC Wild Card Game at Philadelphia (1/7)…Finished the season with 55 tackles (41 solo), 23 QB hurries (2nd on the team), 16 QB hits (1st), 4 sacks, 2 interceptions and 2 forced fumbles.
* Made his 1st career start vs. Tampa Bay (10/29) at right defensive end and finished with 6 tackles (4 solo), 1 sack and a forced fumble…Recorded his 1st career sack when he dropped Bruce Gradkowski for a 5-yard loss. Also forced a fumble in the 2nd quarter and tackled Carnell Williams for a 1-yard loss in the 1st quarter.
* Started at right defensive end and finished with 7 solo tackles and a sack vs. Houston (11/5)…Recorded his 2nd sack when he stopped David Carr for a 6-yard loss in the 4th quarter.
* Started at right defensive end vs. Chicago (11/12), and finished with 3 tackles (2 solo), 2 quarterback hurries and 1 interception…Picked off a Rex Grossman pass intended for Rashied Davis for his 1st career interception and returned it 32 yards to set up Brandon Jacobs' 1-yard touchdown run.
* Started at left defensive end vs. Dallas (12/3), and finished with 8 tackles (6 solo), 1 sack, 2 QB hits, 1 interception, a pass defensed and a forced fumble…Intercepted his 2nd pass of the season when he caught a tipped throw from Tony Romo. Returned the interception 12 yards before fumbling the ball, which was recovered by Dallas WR Sam Hurd…His 2-yard sack and forced fumble of Romo in the 2nd quarter was his 3rd of the season.
* Started in the NFC Wild Card game at Philadelphia (1/7) and finished with a team-high 7 tackles (5 solo).

COLLEGE

* Played in 49 games with 38 starts for Boston College…Kiwanuka recorded 245 tackles (155 solo) and set school records with 37.5 sacks for minus 215 yards and 64.5 stops for losses of 297 yards. He recovered 2 fumbles, including 1 for a 49-yard score, and had 3 forced fumbles. Also deflected 13 passes and intercepted 3 others, returning one 32 yards for a touchdown. Kiwanuka's 37.5 sacks topped the previous mark of 29 by Outland Trophy winner Mike Ruth (1982-85).
* As a redshirt freshman in 2002, he appeared in every game, starting the first 2 at left defensive end. He made 44 tackles (27 solo) with 5 sacks and 7.5 stops for losses.
* In 2003, he earned All-Big East honors while leading the conference with 11.5 sacks…Named Big East Defensive Player of the Year in 2004, as he produced 11.5 sacks, 24.5 stops for losses and 67 tackles (36 solo). Kiwanuka also picked off 2 passes, returning one 32 yards for a touchdown.
* As a senior in 2005 he was limited by a knee injury, but registered 51 tackles (34 solo) with 9.5 sacks and 16.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage.

OFF FIELD ACTIVITY

* Attended the United Way of New York City's 2009 Gridiron Gala fundraiser dinner.
* Participated in the Giants Foundation 2009 Golf Outing.
* Participated in the Antonio Pierce Youth Fund's Scholarship Golf Outing in Bermuda.
* Attended the Champions for Children fundraiser gala benefitting the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation.
* Joined Danny Clark as he hosted kids from Abbott House for a holiday shopping spree at Wal-Mart.
* Attended the Muscular Dystrophy Association's Muscle Team fundraiser dinner.
* Attended the Giants Kickoff Luncheon benefitting St. Vincent's Medical Center.

PERSONAL

* Attended Cathedral (Indianapolis, Ind.) High School, where he earned Super Prep and Prep Football Report All-Midwest honors.
* Kiwanuka was a 2000 All-State and All-City selection, as he helped lead Cathedral to back-to-back state 4A championships in 1998 and 1999. The team compiled a 36-5 record in his 3 years with the varsity.
* Communications major.
* Youngest of Deodata and Emmanuel Kiwanuka's 3 children…His late grandfather, Benedicto Kiwanuka, was elected Uganda's first prime minister in 1961 and was assassinated in 1972 by Idi Amin.
* Born Mathias Kagimu Kiwanuka on March 8, 1983.

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